The Association among Malaria in Pregnancy, Neonatal inflammation, and Neurocognitive Development in a Cohort of Malawian Infants
Malaria in pregnancy (MIP) causes poor birth outcomes, but its impact on neurocognitive development has not been well characterized. Between 2012 and 2014, we enrolled 307 mother-infant pairs and monitored 286 infants for neurocognitive development using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. MIP was diagnosed from peripheral blood […]
Preparing for Disease X: Ensuring Vaccine Equity for Pregnant Women in Future Pandemics
Disease X represents a yet unknown human pathogen which has potential to cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated that despite being at increased risk of severe disease compared with the general population, pregnant women were left behind in the development and implementation of vaccination, resulting in conflicting communications and […]
A mobile phone-based multimedia intervention to support maternal health is acceptable and feasible among illiterate pregnant women in Uganda: Qualitative findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial
Background: Uganda’s maternal mortality rate remains unacceptably high. Mobile phones can potentially provide affordable means of accessing maternal health services even among the otherwise hard-to-reach populations. Evidence about the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone-based interventions targeting illiterate women, however, is limited. Objective: To assess the acceptability and feasibility of a mobile phone-based multimedia application […]
How children access antiretroviral treatment at Kgapane District Hospital, Limpopo, South Africa
Background: At Kgapane Hospital, Limpopo Province, only 20% of eligible children initiated antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 2007. The aim of this study was to improve the ART programme by assessing how children were accessing ART, and to explore the factors that facilitate or obstruct this access. Method: Mixed methods were used in a descriptive study […]
Assessment of the quality of care in maternity waiting homes (MWHS) in Mulanje district, Malawi
Aim Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)in Malawi remains high at 439 deaths per 100,000 live births, primarily due to limited access to skilled birth care. Although Malawi established Maternity Waiting Homes (MWHs) to improve access to skilled labour, the quality of care provided in the homes has received limited assessment. The aim of this study was […]
The effectiveness of a behavioral science and design intervention for family savings on use of maternal health services and male involvement: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background: Lack of financial preparedness for pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes during childbirth. Behavioral science interventions have been shown to influence savings behavior. Financial savings interventions can be adapted for the purpose of encouraging individuals to save towards maternal healthcare costs. This article describes a protocol to assess the effectiveness of an intervention formulated […]
Men’s participation in maternal and child health care in Western Uganda: Perspectives from the community
Background: Participation of men in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is crucial for the reduction of infant and maternal mortality. Men may be influential in making health care decisions that may affect their female partner’s access to health care services, but also as individuals, whose health status has a significant impact on the health of […]
Effects of Maternal Suicidal Ideation on Child Cognitive Development: A Longitudinal Analysis
This study aimed to assess the association between suicidal ideation among mothers living with HIV in Zimbabwe and the cognitive development of their children. Participants were mother–child dyads recruited from two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Data were collected at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Suicidal ideation was assessed using item-10 from the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. […]
Why Muslim women in Northern Ghana do not use skilled maternal healthcare services at health facilities: A qualitative study Healthcare availability and accessibility
Background: Muslim women are one sub-population in Ghana among whom the rate of skilled maternal health services accessibility and utilisation is very low. However, there are no studies in Ghana that explore the maternity needs and care experiences of Muslim women, and why they do not utilise maternal healthcare services at health facilities. The purpose […]
Barriers to uptake of antenatal maternal screening tests in Senegal
Background Evidence exists that selective antenatal maternal screening tests contribute to the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality. However, data are lacking on coverage with the complete set of recommended tests. The study aimed to identify barriers to uptake of the complete set of tests recommended by the Ministry of Health in Senegal. Methods Data […]
