Enablers and barriers to introduction of obstetrics ultrasound service at primary care facilities in a resource-limited setting: a qualitative study in four regions of Ethiopia
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of eight ANC contacts during pregnancy, of which having one ultrasound examination before 24 weeks of gestation is indicated. Ultrasound plays a significant role in the surveillance and management of high-risk pregnancies. However, the obstetric ultrasound coverage in resource limited settings remains low. Evidence examining the […]
Improving maternal and newborn health services in Northeast Nigeria through a government-led partnership of stakeholders: A quasi-experimental study
Objectives This study aimed to quantify change in the coverage, quality and equity of essential maternal and newborn healthcare interventions in Gombe state, Northeast Nigeria, following a four year, government-led, maternal and newborn health intervention. Design Quasi-experimental plausibility study. Repeat cross-sectional household and linked health facility surveys were implemented in intervention and comparison areas. Setting […]
The triple threat of pregnancy, HIV infection and malaria: Reported causes of maternal mortality in two nationwide health facility assessments in Mozambique, 2007 and 2012
Background: The paper’s primary purpose is to determine changes in magnitude and causes of institutional maternal mortality in Mozambique. We also describe shifts in the location of institutional deaths and changes in availability of prevention and treatment measures for malaria and HIV infection. Methods: Two national cross-sectional assessments of health facilities with childbirth services were […]
Continuum of maternal healthcare services utilisation and associated factors among women who gave birth in Siyadebirena Wayu district, Ethiopia: Community-based cross-sectional study
Objective This study aimed to analyse the prevalence and factors associated with continuum of maternal healthcare services among women who gave birth in Siyadebirena Wayu district, Central Ethiopia. Design Community-based cross-sectional study. Setting At eight Kebeles in Central Ethiopia. Participants The study was done on 614women aged 15–49 years using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Following proportional […]
Predictors of skilled assistance seeking behavior to pregnancy complications among women at southwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional community based study Obstetrics
Background: In Ethiopia, about 20,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and child birth with many more maternal morbidities occurring for each maternal deaths. This makes Ethiopia one of the highest countries for maternal deaths in the developing world. This study attempted to assess women’s skilled assistance seeking behaviour for pregnancy complications among […]
Assessment of service readiness for maternity care in primary health centres in rural Nigeria: Implications for service improvement
Introduction: several scientific reports from studies across Nigeria revealed a higher incidence of maternal mortality in rural parts of the country as compared to the urban areas. Part of the reasons is the paucity of health care infrastructure and personnel. This study was designed as part of an intervention program with the goal to improve […]
Reflections on the unintended consequences of the promotion of institutional pregnancy and birth care in Burkina Faso
The policy of institutional delivery has been the cornerstone of actions aimed at monitoring and achieving MDG 5. Efforts to increase institutional births have been implemented world-wide within different cultural and health systems settings. This paper explores how communities in rural Burkina Faso perceive the promotion and delivery of facility pregnancy and birth care, and […]
The burden of disease on HIV-infected orphaned and non-orphaned children accessing primary health facilities in a rural district with poor resources in South Africa: A cross-sectional survey of primary caregivers of HIV-infected children aged 5-18 years
Background: Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) is offered as part of the normal standard of care to increase access to treatment for HIV-infected children. In practice, HIV diagnosis occurs in late childhood following recurrent and chronic infections. We investigated primary caregivers’ reported reasons for seeking HIV testing for children aged 5-18 years, determined the […]
Distant and proximate factors associated with maternal near-miss: A nested case-control study in selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Background: Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan Africa countries with the highest maternal mortality. Maternal near-misses are more common than deaths and statistically stronger for a comprehensive analysis of the determinants. The study aimed to identify the factors associated with maternal near-miss in selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted a nested […]
Adolescent Pregnancy and Challenges in Kenyan Context: Perspectives from Multiple Community Stakeholders
Objective: The key objective of this paper is to provide a phenomenological account of the mental health challenges and experiences of adolescent new mothers. We explore the role of social support and the absence of empathy plays in depression among pregnant adolescents. The project also collected data on the adolescents’ caregiving environment which includes the […]
