Causes of death in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Cǒte d’Ivoire, from 2009 to 2011
Background: Current vital statistics from governmental institutions in Cǒte d’Ivoire are incomplete. This problem is particularly notable for remote rural areas that have limited access to the health system. Objective: To record all deaths from 2009 to 2011 and to identify the leading causes of death in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) […]
Health system factors influencing uptake of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent girls 9-15 years in Mbale District, Uganda
Background: Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women with more than 85% of the burden in developing countries. In Uganda, cervical cancer has shown an increase of 1.8% per annum over the last 20 years. The availability of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine presents an opportunity to prevent cervical cancer. Understanding […]
Antenatal care visit attendance, intermittent preventive treatment and bed net use during pregnancy in Gabon
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) and insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) must be provided during antenatal care (ANC) visits for malaria prevention during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the level of ANC attendance and its relationship with IPTp-SP and bed net coverage […]
Maternal mental health of adolescent mothers: a cross-sectional mixed-method study protocol to determine cultural and social factors and mental health needs in Lilongwe, Malawi
INTRODUCTION: Adolescence marks a transition of life from childhood to adulthood. Becoming a mother during adolescence presents unique challenges that have a significant mental and physical burden and may increase the likelihood of developing common mental disorders (CMDs). Untreated CMDs have serious effects on both the mother and her child. Culture constitutes an important context […]
Chronic gestational inflammation: Transfer of maternal adaptation over two generations of progeny
Changes in the in utero environment result in generational transfer of maladapted physiology in the context of conditions such as stress, obesity, and anxiety. Given the significant contribution of noncommunicable diseases – which are characterised by chronic inflammation – to population mortality, the potential for chronic maternal inflammation mediating foetal programming is a growing concern. […]
Effect of oral prophylactic measures on the occurrence of pre-eclampsia (OP-PE) in high-risk pregnant women: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Pre-eclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder, characterized by the development of placental endothelial dysfunction, remains a major source of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in low-and middle-income settings. Periodontal disorders during pregnancy, and particularly periodontal pathogens, may be related to the risk of PE. Standard oral hygiene methods, based mainly on the joint […]
Impact of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement on hemoglobin, iron status and biomarkers of inflammation in pregnant Ghanaian women
We examined hemoglobin (Hb, g/L), iron status (zinc protoporphyrin, ZPP, µmol/mol heme, and transferrin receptor, TfR, mg/L) and inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP and alpha-1 glycoprotein, AGP) in pregnant Ghanaian women who participated in a randomized controlled trial. Women (n = 1320) received either 60 mg Fe + 400-µg folic acid (IFA); 18 micronutrients including 20-mg […]
Effect of guided counseling on nutritional status of pregnant women in West Gojjam zone, Ethiopia: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
Background: Undernutrition during pregnancy affects birth outcomes adversely. In Ethiopia, despite nutrition counseling on the maternal diet being given by the health workers during pregnancy, maternal undernutrition is still high in the country. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effect of guided counseling using the health belief model and the theory of planned behavior […]
Effectiveness of post-partum family planning interventions on contraceptive use and method mix at 1 year after childbirth in Kinshasa, DR Congo (Yam Daabo): a single-blind, cluster-randomised controlled trial
Background: In rural Burkina Faso, a package of six low-technology, post-partum contraceptive interventions (ie, refresher training for providers, a counselling tool, supportive supervision, daily availability of contraceptive services, client appointment cards, and invitation letters to attend appointments for partners), aimed at strengthening existing primary health-care services and enhancing demand for them, doubled the use of […]
Equality in maternal and newborn health: Modelling geographic disparities in utilisation of care in five East African countries
Background: Geographic accessibility to health facilities represents a fundamental barrier to utilisation of maternal and newborn health (MNH) services, driving historically hidden spatial pockets of localized inequalities. Here, we examine utilisation of MNH care as an emergent property of accessibility, highlighting high-resolution spatial heterogeneity and sub-national inequalities in receiving care before, during, and after delivery […]
