Access and utilisation of antenatal care services in a rural community of eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal
Although the South African government adopted a primary health care approach to health care service provision in order to ensure equitable access to and utilisation of health care services to all communities, the country continues to face challenges regarding access and utilisation of health care services especially in the rural communities. Antenatal care which is […]
Determinants and patterns of antibiotic consumption for children under five in Nepal: analysis and modelling of Demographic Health Survey data from 2006 to 2016
Objectives: Our aims were to examine AMR-specific and AMR-sensitive factors associated with antibiotic consumption in Nepal between 2006 and 2016, to explore health care-seeking patterns and the source of antibiotics. Methods: Cross-sectional data from children under five in households in Nepal were extracted from the 2006, 2011 and 2016 Demographic Health Surveys (DHS). Bivariable and […]
Why rural women do not use primary health centres for pregnancy care: Evidence from a qualitative study in Nigeria
Background: While Primary Health Care has been designed to provide universal access to skilled pregnancy care for the prevention of maternal deaths in Nigeria, available evidence suggests that pregnant women in rural communities often do not use Primary Health Care Centres for skilled care. The objective of this study was to investigate the reasons why […]
Comprehensive approach to improving maternal health and achieving MDG 5: Report from the mountains of Lesotho
Background: Although it is now widely recognized that reductions in maternal mortality and improvements in women’s health cannot be achieved through simple, vertical strategies, few programs have provided successful models for how to integrate services into a comprehensive program for maternal health. We report our experience in rural Lesotho, where Partners In Health (PIH) in […]
Pooled prevalence and determinants of antenatal care visits in countries with high maternal mortality: A multi-country analysis
Background: Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of maternal and child deaths and disabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Timely and frequent antenatal care prevents these burdens by promoting existing disease treatments, vaccination, iron supplementation, and HIV counseling and testing during pregnancy. Many factors could contribute to optimal ANC utilization remaining […]
Immunisation coverage among children born to HIV-infected women in Rakai district, Uganda: Effect of voluntary testing and counselling (VCT)
To evaluate the impact of maternal HIV-infection on routine childhood Immunisation coverage, we compared the immunisation status of children born to HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women in rural Uganda. The study population was 214 HIV(+) and 578 HIV(-) women with children aged 6 to 35 months previously enrolled in a community study to evaluate maternal and […]
Reducing maternal deaths in Ethiopia: Results of an intervention programme in Southwest Ethiopia
Background In a large population in Southwest Ethiopia (population 700,000), we carried out a complex set of interventions with the aim of reducing maternal mortality. This study evaluated the effects of several coordinated interventions to help improve effective coverage and reduce maternal deaths. Together with the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia, we designed a project […]
Accounting for recent trends in the prevalence of diarrhoea in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Results from consecutive cross-sectional surveys
Objectives: To analyse trends in diarrhoea prevalence by maternal education, access to clean water and improved sanitation, household wealth index; to identify the sources of variation and assess contribution of changes in socioeconomic characteristics in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Design: Consecutive cross-sectional surveys. Setting: DRC. Participants: The databases contain information on 9748 children […]
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of grand multiparas over two decades in Mali
Objective. To analyze the association between grand multiparity and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Design. Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting. Point G National Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Bamako, Mali. Population. All singleton births from 1985 to 2003. Methods. Cross-sectional study of 13 340 singleton births at a tertiary care hospital in Mali (1985-2003) […]
Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in Kigoma, Tanzania: A 13-Year Initiative
The Program to Reduce Maternal Deaths in Tanzania was a 13-year (2006-2019) effort in the Kigoma region that evolved over 3 phases to improve and sustain the availability of, access to, and demand for high-quality maternal and reproductive health care services. The Program intended to bring high-quality care closer to more communities. Cutting across the […]
