Global infant mortality trends and attributable determinants – an ecological study using data from 192 countries for the period 1990-2011
Background: Infant mortality rate (IMR) is regarded as an important indicator of population health. IMR rates vary substantially with the highest found in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared to the lowest in Europe. Identifying spatial disparities in IMR and quantifying attributable risk factors is essential for policymakers when tailoring time-appropriate interventions at a global, regional, and […]
Disparities in micronutrient intake among children 6-23 months in Ethiopia: a multi-level analysis based on national survey data
Both micronutrient deficiency and undernutrition among children are priority areas of public health concern in Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with disparities in micronutrients intake among children 6-23 months. Data were drawn from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). A total of 3076 children aged […]
Guidelines for maternal and neonatal “point of care”: Needs of and attitudes towards a computerized clinical decision support system in rural Burkina Faso
Background: In 2010, 245,000 women died due to pregnancy-related causes in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. Our study is nested into the QUALMAT project and seeks to improve the quality of maternal care services through the introduction of a computerized clinical decision support system (CDSS) to help healthcare workers in rural areas. Healthcare information technology […]
Health providers´ knowledge on maternal and newborn care: Implications on health systems strengthening in Vihiga County, Kenya
Introduction: pregnant women need access to skilled attendance at birth and emergency obstetric care (EmOC) to avert maternal deaths. While poor EmOC services may explain the high maternal mortality, inadequate knowledge of providers is also part of the problem. This forms the basis of this paper, in a setting where 50.2% of women deliver in […]
Determinants of maternal high-risk fertility behaviors and its correlation with child stunting and anemia in the East Africa region: A pooled analysis of nine East African countries
Background In low-income nations, high-risk fertility behavior is a prevalent public health concern that can be ascribed to unmet family planning needs, child marriage, and a weak health system. As a result, this study aimed to determine the factors that influence high-risk fertility behavior and its impact on child stunting and anemia. Method This study […]
Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among under-five children in Egypt
Background: Evidence suggests that Egypt, a country in North Africa, has a significant number of children at serious risk of excess body weight. Yet, there is a dearth of studies on overweight and obesity among children under 5 years in the country. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among under-five […]
Determinants of the disparities in antenatal care and delivery care services in Uganda
Disparities in the Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance and Delivery in a Health Facility (DHF) were examined in Uganda where the maternal and the new-born mortality are high. Cross-sectional data on 4818 women were obtained from the 2011 Uganda Demographic Health Survey and was used. Over half and three-fifth of the women attended the recommended 4 […]
Decomposition and Spatio-temporal analysis of health care access challenges among reproductive age women in Ethiopia, 2005-2016
Background: The high maternal mortality, home delivery, unwanted pregnancies, incidence of unsafe abortion, and unmeet family planning needs are maternal health gaps attributed to health care access barriers and responsible for the observed health care disparities. Over the last decades remarkable achievements have made in relation to maternal health problems and the reduction of health […]
Integrating noncommunicable disease prevention into maternal and child health programs: Can it be done and what will it take?
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. However, these diseases have not been adequately addressed by health systems, especially in low-resource countries. Similarly, there is no equitable allocation of global resources for health commensurate with the burden of diseases occasioned by NCDs. This has resulted in poor access to care for women, […]
Barriers to access and utilization of emergency obstetric care at health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa-a systematic review protocol
Background: Nearly 15% of all pregnancies end in fatal perinatal obstetric complications including bleeding, infections, hypertension, obstructed labor, and complications of abortion. Between 1990 and 2015, an estimated 10.7 million women died due to obstetric complications. Almost all of these deaths (99%) happened in developing countries, and 66% of maternal deaths were attributed to sub-Saharan […]
