Fortified Balanced Energy-Protein Supplementation, Maternal Anemia, and Gestational Weight Gain: A Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial among Pregnant Women in Rural Burkina Faso
Background: Anemia and suboptimal gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with adverse maternal and birth outcomes. Limited research indicates that balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplements reduce the incidence of inadequate GWG. Objectives: We assessed the efficacy of a micronutrient-fortified BEP supplement on the secondary outcomes of anemia, GWG, GWG rate, and GWG in relation to the […]
Patterns and determinants of pathways to reach comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care (CEmONC) in South Sudan: Qualitative diagrammatic pathway analysis
Background: Maternity referral systems have been under-documented, under-researched, and under-theorised. Responsive emergency referral systems and appropriate transportation are cornerstones in the continuum of care and central to the complex health system. The pathways that women follow to reach Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) once a decision has been made to seek care have received […]
Magnitude of sedentary behavior and associated factors among secondary school adolescents in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia
Background: Sedentary life style is becoming increasingly common in this industrial age due to changes on the way people manufacture, transport and communicate. Sedentary lifestyle is associated with chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer), depression, obesity and premature mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of sedentary […]
Perceptions and practices for preventing malaria in pregnancy in a peri-urban setting in south-western Uganda
Background: Malaria in pregnancy contributes greatly to maternal morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Thus it is urgent to identify possible barriers that limit access to existing interventions. The aim of this study was to assess perceptions and practices regarding malaria prevention during pregnancy in a peri-urban area and explore ways to scale-up malaria prevention interventions, […]
Patterns and determinants of dropout from maternity care continuum in Nigeria
Background: The maternal, newborn and child health care continuum require that mother/child pair should receive the full package of antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care in order to derive maximum benefits. Continuity of care is a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we investigate the patterns and factors associated with dropout in the continuum of […]
Antenatal corticosteroids for women at risk of imminent preterm birth in 7 sub-Saharan African countries: A policy and implementation landscape analysis
Countries have put in place some elements necessary for safe and effective antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) use, but significant challenges remain including: ensuring accurate gestational age determination, establishing clear treatment guidelines, strengthening provider capacity, incorporating obstetric indications for ACS use in national essential medicines lists, and collecting and using ACS-related data in the HMIS. Most importantly, […]
Unpredictability dictates quality of maternal and newborn care provision in rural Tanzania-A qualitative study of health workers’ perspectives
Background: Health workers are the key to realising the potential of improved quality of care for mothers and newborns in the weak health systems of Sub Saharan Africa. Their perspectives are fundamental to understand the effectiveness of existing improvement programs and to identify ways to strengthen future initiatives. The objective of this study was therefore […]
Cesarean delivery in Nigeria: Prevalence and associated factors •a population-based cross-sectional study
Objective To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with caesarean delivery in Nigeria. Design This is a secondary analysis of the nationally representative 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data. We carried out frequency tabulation, χ 2 test, simple logistic regression and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses to achieve the study objective. Setting Nigeria. […]
You will know that despite being HIV positive you are not alone: Qualitative study to inform content of a text messaging intervention to improve prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
Background: Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) relies on long-term adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Mobile health approaches, such as text messaging (short message service, SMS), may improve adherence in some clinical contexts, but it is unclear what SMS content is desired to improve PMTCT-ART adherence. Objective: We aimed to explore the SMS content preferences […]
Understanding home delivery in a context of user fee reduction: A cross-sectional mixed methods study in rural Burkina Faso
Background: Several African countries have recently reduced/removed user fees for maternal care, producing considerable increases in the utilization of delivery services. Still, across settings, a conspicuous number of women continue to deliver at home. This study explores reasons for home delivery in rural Burkina Faso, where a successful user fee reduction policy is in place […]
