Need for sensitization on serious threats of second-hand smoke: Findings from a national study in Mauritius, a small island developing state in the Indian Ocean

This study had the following objectives: To assess the level of knowledge of Mauritians aged ≥ 20 years on the health effects of Second Hand Smoke (SHS), to investigate their behaviour when exposed to SHS and to look for any association between SHS-related knowledge and behaviour towards exposure. A national cross-sectional online survey was conducted. […]

Factors influencing place of delivery for pastoralist women in Kenya: A qualitative study

Background: Kenya’s high maternal mortality ratio can be partly explained by the low proportion of women delivering in health facilities attended by skilled birth attendants (SBAs). Many women continue to give birth at home attended by family members or traditional birth attendants (TBAs). This is particularly true for pastoralist women in Laikipia and Samburu counties, […]

Perceptions and Experiences of Overweight among Women in the Ga East District, Ghana

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are a growing public health challenge among women of reproductive age. While cultural norms suggest preference for an overweight body image, limited evidence exists regarding women’s beliefs and experiences of overweight in Ghana. The current study explored beliefs, perceptions, experiences, and practices concerning overweight among women living in suburban Accra, Ghana. […]

Utilisation of antenatal care and skilled delivery services among mothers in Nanton District of Northern Ghana: a mixed-method study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Maternal morbidity and mortality are a global phenomenon with devastating effects on low-income and middle-income countries among which sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the hardest hit. Low utilisation of maternal health services has been recorded in recent times in the Nanton District of Ghana. This has raised concerns about the utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) […]

Action leveraging evidence to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity (ALERT): study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda

Background: Insufficient reductions in maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths in the past decade are a deterrence to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3. The majority of deaths occur during the intrapartum and immediate postnatal period. Overcoming the knowledge-do-gap to ensure implementation of known evidence-based interventions during this period has the potential to avert at […]

“Those who care much, understand much.” Maternal perceptions of children’s appetite: Perspectives from urban and rural caregivers of diverse parenting experience in Bangladesh

Appetite in children is an important determinant of nutritional intake and growth. The information used by caregivers to understand children’s appetite can help inform infant and young child feeding promotion and appetite assessment. We conducted a qualitative study to (a) explore maternal perceptions and responses to children’s appetite and (b) to identify how these factors […]

Profile, knowledge, and work patterns of a cadre of maternal, newborn, and child health CHWs focusing on preventive and promotive services in Morogoro Region, Tanzania

Background: Despite impressive decreases in under-five mortality, progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Tanzania has been slow. We present an evaluation of a cadre of maternal, newborn, and child health community health worker (MNCH CHW) focused on preventive and promotive services during the antenatal and postpartum periods in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Study findings […]

Community pharmacy professionals’ practice in responding to minor symptoms experienced by pregnant women in Ethiopia: results from sequential mixed methods

Background: In countries with limited access to healthcare services, community pharmacists’ management of minor symptoms experienced by pregnant women could be beneficial in terms of alleviating the burden of other health professionals and cost of services. However, evidence is limited regarding the practice of community pharmacy professionals in responding to minor pregnancy-related symptoms more generally, […]

How COVID-19 affected food systems, health service delivery and maternal and infant nutrition practices: Implications for moving forward in Kenya

This implementation research study sought to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and infant nutrition practices, and related aspects of health and food systems in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu Counties, Kenya. The study triangulated in-depth interviews with 16 pregnant women, 31 lactating women (including COVID-19 positive), 10 facility health workers, 10 community health […]

Institutional delivery and associated factors among women who gave birth in Benishangul Gumuz region, South West Ethiopia

Background: Maternal mortality from pregnancy and childbirth remains a major public health problem. Increasing access to institutional delivery is one of the key strategies to reduce childbirth-related maternal mortality. Despite all the efforts, institutional deliveries in Ethiopia remain low. Understanding factors associated with institutional delivery is important to devise strategies to improve facility based child […]