Playing the catch-up game: Accelerating the scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services to eliminate new pediatric HIV infection in Nigeria
Introduction As the world is making progress towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, poor coverage of PMTCT services in Nigeria remains a major challenge. In order to address this, scale-up was planned with activities organized into 3 phases. This paper describes the process undertaken in eight high burden Nigerian states to rapidly close PMTCT […]
Effectiveness of participatory community solutions strategy on improving household and provider health care behaviors and practices: A mixed-method evaluation
Introduction We implemented a participatory quality improvement strategy in eight primary health care units of Ethiopia to improve use and quality of maternal and newborn health services. Methods We evaluated the effects of this strategy using mixed-methods research. We used before- and-after (March 2016 and November 2017) cross-sectional surveys of women who had children 0-11 […]
The effect of weekly interactive text-messaging on early infant HIV testing in Kenya: a randomised controlled trial (WelTel PMTCT)
Mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains a significant concern in Africa despite earlier progress. Early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV is crucial to reduce mortality among infected infants through early treatment initiation. However, a large proportion of HIV-exposed infants are still not tested in Kenya. Our objective was to investigate whether weekly interactive text-messages improved prevention […]
Pregnancy options counselling in Ghana: A case study of women with unintended pregnancies in Kumasi metropolis, Ghana
Background: Pregnancy crisis mismanagement has contributed to maternal deaths and illnesses globally and in Ghana due to absence/inadequate pregnancy options counselling for clients to make informed decisions. This study examines options counselling for abortion seekers in health facilities in Ghana. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design was done in selected specialised public and NGO health facilities […]
Medical and psychological consequences of rape among survivors during armed conflicts in northeast Ethiopia
Background Rape is the most common act of violence against women during wartime which is considered interpersonal, social and political violence because survivors usually suffer from stigma and discrimination in the community. Sexual violence is a serious threat to women’s health. The psychological and medical consequences of rape during the conflict period are not well […]
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 […]
Essential health services delivery in South Africa during COVID-19: Community and healthcare worker perspectives
Background: Between May 2020 and February 2022, South Africa’s health system bore strain as it battled mitigating the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s pandemic response was scrutinized. This period also brought into focus pre-existing shortcomings in the healthcare system and its governing bodies. Contextually, there is a paucity in literature on the experiences of healthcare providers […]
Geographic access to care is not a determinant of child mortality in a rural Kenyan setting with high health facility density
Background. Policy-makers evaluating country progress towards the Millennium Development Goals also examine trends in health inequities. Distance to health facilities is a known determinant of health care utilization and may drive inequalities in health outcomes; we aimed to investigate its effects on childhood mortality. Methods. The Epidemiological and Demographic Surveillance System in Kilifi District, Kenya, […]
Access to institutional delivery care and reasons for home delivery in three districts of Tanzania
Introduction. Globally, health facility delivery is encouraged as a single most important strategy in preventing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, access to facility-based delivery care remains low in many less developed countries. This study assesses facilitators and barriers to institutional delivery in three districts of Tanzania. Methods. Data come from a cross-sectional survey […]
Signal functions for measuring the ability of health facilities to provide abortion services: An illustrative analysis using a health facility census in Zambia
Background: Annually, around 44 million abortions are induced worldwide. Safe termination of pregnancy (TOP) services can reduce maternal mortality, but induced abortion is illegal or severely restricted in many countries. All abortions, particularly unsafe induced abortions, may require post-abortion care (PAC) services to treat complications and prevent future unwanted pregnancy. We used a signal-function approach […]
