How has sustainable development goals declaration influenced health financing reforms for universal health coverage at the country level? A scoping review of literature
Background: Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires health financing reforms (HFR) in many of the countries. HFR are inherently political. The sustainable development goals (SDG) declaration provides a global political commitment context that can influence HFR for UHC at national level. However, how the declaration has influenced HFR discourse at the national level and how […]
Cell phone counseling improves retention of mothers with HIV infection in care and infant HIV testing in Kisumu, Kenya: A randomized controlled study
Background: We evaluated the effectiveness of a cell phone counseling intervention to promote retention in care and HIV testing of infants among women with HIV accessing prevention of mother-to-child services in Kisumu, Kenya. Methods: Between May 2013 and September 2015, we recruited 404 pregnant women with HIV who were between 14 and 36 weeks of […]
Impact of universal home visits on child health in Bauchi State, Nigeria: a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial
Background: Nigeria is the second biggest contributor to global child mortality. Infectious diseases continue to be major killers. In Bauchi State, Nigeria, a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial tested the health impacts of universal home visits to pregnant women and their spouses. We present here the findings related to early child health. Methods: The […]
Study design and rationale for the PAASIM project: a matched cohort study on urban water supply improvements and infant enteric pathogen infection, gut microbiome development and health in Mozambique
Introduction Despite clear linkages between provision of clean water and improvements in child health, limited information exists about the health impacts of large water infrastructure improvements in low-income settings. Billions of dollars are spent annually to improve urban water supply, and rigorous evaluation of these improvements, especially targeting informal settlements, is critical to guide policy […]
Evaluation of a community-based mobile video breastfeeding intervention in Khayelitsha, South Africa: The Philani MOVIE cluster-randomized controlled trial
Background In South Africa, breastfeeding promotion is a national health priority. Regular perinatal home visits by community health workers (CHWs) have helped promote exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in underresourced settings. Innovative, digital approaches including mobile video content have also shown promise, especially as access to mobile technology increases among CHWs. We measured the effects of an […]
Protocol for the evaluation of a pay for performance programme in Pwani region in Tanzania: A controlled before and after study
Background: The use of supply-side incentives to increase health service utilisation and enhance service quality is gaining momentum in many low- and middle-income countries. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the impact of such schemes, their cost-effectiveness, and the process of implementation and potential unintended consequences in these settings. A pay for performance […]
Low-dose aspirin for preventing intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia in sickle cell pregnancy (PIPSICKLE): A randomised controlled trial (study protocol)
Introduction Pregnancy in sickle cell disease is fraught with many complications including pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Previously, we found an abnormality in prostacyclin-thromboxane ratio in sickle cell pregnant women, a situation that is also found in non-sickle pregnancies with PE and unexplained IUGR. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) has been shown to reduce the […]
Evaluating the effect of a community score card among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in two districts in Malawi
Malawi faces challenges with retaining women in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services. We evaluated Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE’s) community score card (CSC) in 11 purposively selected health facilities, assessing the effect on: (1) retention in PMTCT services, (2) uptake of early infant diagnosis (EID), (3) collective efficacy among clients, […]
Barriers to the uptake of community-based curative child health services in Ethiopia
Background: Uptake of services to treat newborns and children has been persistently low in Ethiopia, despite being provided free-of-charge by Health Extension Workers (HEWs). In order to increase the uptake of these services, the Optimizing the Health Extension Project was designed to be implemented in four regions in Ethiopia. This study was carried out to […]
Burden of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Villages of Eastern Gedaref State, Sudan: An Exhaustive Cross-Sectional Survey
Background: Since December 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières has diagnosed and treated patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Tabarak Allah Hospital, eastern Gedaref State, one of the main endemic foci of VL in Sudan. A survey was conducted to estimate the VL incidence in villages around Tabarak Allah. Methods: Between the 5th of May and the […]
