Sexual and reproductive health of CDC plantation camp residents: a focus on unmet need for family planning among women in union
Background: Sexual and reproductive health is crucial to a normal and healthy female life. However, little interest has been placed on this subject particularly in the resource-limited settings of Cameroon. The study assessed the sexual and reproductive health of women in union, resident in the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) plantation camps, Cameroon. Methods: This was […]
Investigating health impacts of natural resource extraction projects in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique, and Tanzania: Protocol for a mixed methods study
Background: Natural resource extraction projects offer both opportunities and risks for sustainable development and health in host communities. Often, however, the health of the community suffers. Health impact assessment (HIA) can mitigate the risks and promote the benefits of development but is not routinely done in the developing regions that could benefit the most. Objective: […]
Dietary practices and associated factors among pregnant women in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia
Background: The optimal dietary practice is a critical requisite for maternal nutrition. However, the majority of Ethiopian pregnant women have inadequate nutrient intakes. These may be due to their poor dietary habits. Identifying factors affecting the dietary practices of pregnant women is crucial to design appropriate interventions. In this country, the dietary practices of pregnant […]
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 […]
Improved maternity care if midwives learn to perform ultrasound: A qualitative study of Rwandan midwives’ experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound
Background: Obstetric ultrasound has become an indispensable part of antenatal care worldwide. Although the use of ultrasound has shown benefits in the reduction of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, it has also raised many ethical challenges. Because of insufficient numbers of midwives in Rwanda, uncomplicated pregnancy care is usually provided by nurses in local […]
Constructing a nurse-led cardiovascular disease intervention in rural ghana: A qualitative analysis
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a growing burden in low-and middle-income countries. Ghana seeks to address this problem by task-shifting CVD diagnosis and management to nurses. The Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative offers maternal and pediatric health care throughout Ghana but faces barriers to providing CVD care. We employed in-depth interviews to identify […]
Effects of women’s groups practising participatory learning and action on preventive and care-seeking behaviours to reduce neonatal mortality: A meta-analysis of cluster-randomised trials
Background: The World Health Organization recommends participatory learning and action (PLA) in women’s groups to improve maternal and newborn health, particularly in rural settings with low access to health services. There have been calls to understand the pathways through which this community intervention may affect neonatal mortality. We examined the effect of women’s groups on […]
Community perspectives: An exploration of potential barriers to men’s involvement in maternity care in a central Tanzanian community
Background Male involvement in maternal health has been linked to positive health outcomes for women and children, as they control household resources and make significant decisions, which influence maternal health. Despite of the important role they have in maternal health care, their actual involvement remains low. The objective of this study was to explore community […]
Unpacking the enabling factors for hand, cord and birth-surface hygiene in Zanzibar maternity units
Recent national surveys in The United Republic of Tanzania have revealed poor standards of hygiene at birth in facilities. As more women opt for institutional delivery, improving basic hygiene becomes an essential part of preventative strategies for reducing puerperal and newborn sepsis. Our collaborative research in Zanzibar provides an in-depth picture of the state of […]
The effects of midwives’ job satisfaction on burnout, intention to quit and turnover: a longitudinal study in Senegal
Background: Despite working in a challenging environment plagued by persistent personnel shortages, public sector midwives in Senegal play a key role in tackling maternal mortality. A better understanding of how they are experiencing their work and how it is affecting them is needed in order to better address their needs and incite them to remain […]
