Role of social support in improving infant feeding practices in Western Kenya: A quasi-experimental study
Background: We designed and tested an intervention that used dialogue-based groups to engage infants’ fathers and grandmothers to support optimal infant feeding practices. The study’s aim was to test the effectiveness of increased social support by key household influencers on improving mothers’ complementary feeding practices. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, we enrolled mothers, fathers, and […]
Broadening understanding of accountability ecosystems in sexual and reproductive health and rights: A systematic review
Background Accountability for ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights is increasingly receiving global attention. Less attention has been paid to accountability mechanisms for sexual and reproductive health and rights at national and sub-national level, the focus of this systematic review. Methods We searched for peer-reviewed literature using accountability, sexual and reproductive health, human rights […]
“Why not bathe the baby today?”: A qualitative study of thermal care beliefs and practices in four African sites
Background: Recommendations for care in the first week of a newborn’s life include thermal care practices such as drying and wrapping, skin to skin contact, immediate breastfeeding and delayed bathing. This paper examines beliefs and practices related to neonatal thermal care in three African countries. Methods: Data were collected in the same way in each […]
Influence of Neonatal Resuscitation Training on Practice of Community Health Extension Workers in Managing Asphyxiated Newborns in Rural Nigeria: A Qualitative Study
Birth asphyxia is a global health burden, and effective neonatal resuscitation could reduce the burden of deaths. Providing a suitable newborn resuscitation care will depend on the availability of an effective skilled health worker, who is competent in neonatal resuscitation. The study explores and assesses the effect of neonatal resuscitation training and retention of knowledge […]
A systematic review of risk factors for neonatal mortality in Adolescent Mother’s in Sub Saharan Africa
Background: Worldwide, approximately 14 million mothers aged 15 – 19 years give birth annually. The number of teenage births in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is particularly high with an estimated 50% of mothers under the age of 20. Adolescent mothers have a significantly higher risk of neonatal mortality in comparison to adults. The objective of […]
Assessing the influence of knowledge translation platforms on health system policy processes to achieve the health millennium development goals in Cameroon and Uganda: A comparative case study
There is a scarcity of empirical data on the influence of initiatives supporting evidence-informed health system policy-making (EIHSP), such as the knowledge translation platforms (KTPs) operating in Africa. To assess whether and how two KTPs housed in government-affiliated institutions in Cameroon and Uganda have influenced: (1) health system policy-making processes and decisions aiming at supporting […]
Mental health financing challenges, opportunities and strategies in low- And middle-income countries: Findings from the Emerald project
BackgroundCurrent coverage of mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries is very limited, not only in terms of access to services but also in terms of financial protection of individuals in need of care and treatment.AimsTo identify the challenges, opportunities and strategies for more equitable and sustainable mental health financing in six sub-Saharan African and […]
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. […]
Institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations in Abuna Gindeberet District, West Shewa, Oromiya Region, Central Ethiopia: A Community-based cross sectional study
Background: Delivery at health institutions under the care of trained health-care providers and utilization of postnatal cares services plays vital roles in promoting child survival and reducing the risk of maternal mortality. More than 80 % of maternal deaths can be prevented if pregnant women access to essential maternity cares like antenatal care, institutional delivery […]
Addressing the second delay in saving mothers, giving life districts in Uganda and Zambia: Reaching appropriate maternal care in a timely manner
Background: Between June 2011 and December 2016, the Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL) initiative in Uganda and Zambia implemented a comprehensive approach targeting the persistent barriers that impact a woman’s decision to seek care (first delay), ability to reach care (second delay), and ability to receive adequate care (third delay). This article addresses how SMGL […]
