Determinants of perceived quality of obstetric care in rural Tanzania: A cross-sectional study
Background: Patients’ reported opinions of the health system need to be understood in order to provide patient-centered care. We investigated determinants of women’s ratings of the quality of care during their most recent facility delivery. Methods: We conducted a census of all deliveries in the 6 weeks to 12 months preceding the survey, in villages […]
Biomarkers of maternal environmental enteric dysfunction are associated with shorter gestation and reduced length in newborn infants in Uganda
Background Adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and stunting at birth, have long-term health implications. The relation between adverse birth outcomes and chronic, asymptomatic gastrointestinal inflammation (environmental enteric dysfunction – EED) is poorly understood. Objective We aimed to examine the relation between maternal EED and adverse birth outcomes in a sample of pregnant Ugandan women […]
Use of herbal medicine during pregnancy among women with access to public healthcare in Nairobi, Kenya: A cross-sectional survey
Background: Maternal health is a public health priority in many African countries, but little is known about herbal medicine use in pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the pattern of use of herbal medicine in an urban setting, where women have relatively high access to public healthcare. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 333 women attending […]
Herbal medicine use and predictors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: The use of herbal medicine among pregnant women is increasing in many low- and high-income countries due to their cost-effectiveness in treatment and ease of access. Research findings across Ethiopia on the prevalence and predictors of herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal care are highly variable and inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review […]
Spatial variations and multilevel mixed effect analysis on determinants factors of modern contraceptive utilization among reproductive age women in Ethiopia; proven by Ethiopian mini demographic health survey 2019
Introduction: Globally, in 2019, there are 1.9 billion women of reproductive age (15–49), of which 1.1 billion have a need for family planning. Of these, 842 million use contraceptives, and 270 million still have an unmet need for contraception. Ethiopia is a low-income country with inadequate access to family planning (FP), especially in the developing […]
Determinants of health facility utilization for childbirth in rural western Kenya: Cross-sectional study
Background: Skilled attendance at delivery is recognized as one of the most important factors in preventing maternal death. However, more than 50% of births in Kenya still occur in non-institutional locations supported by family members and/or traditional birth attendants (TBAs). To improve this situation, a study of the determinants of facility delivery, including individual, family […]
Association between household environmental conditions and nutritional status of women of childbearing age in Nigeria
Maternal undernutrition remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Yet, most interventional programmes are focused on infant and child nutrition outcomes and not on maternal nutrition-related outcomes. Evidence suggests that the integration of household environmental interventions into nutrition actions can make a difference in reducing the burden of maternal undernutrition. This study […]
Cost of hospital care of women with postpartum haemorrhage in India, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda: a financial case for improved prevention
Objective: Access to quality, effective lifesaving uterotonics in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a major barrier to reducing maternal deaths from postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Our objective was to assess the costs of care for women who receive different preventative uterotonics, and with PPH and no-PPH so that the differences, if significant, can inform better […]
Accessibility of Early Infant Diagnostic Services by Under-5 Years and HIV Exposed Children in Muheza District, North-East Tanzania
Introduction: Early infant diagnosis (EID) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) provides an opportunity for follow up of HIV exposed children for early detection of infection and timely access to antiretroviral treatment. We assessed predictors for accessing HIV diagnostic services among under-five children exposed to HIV infection in Muheza district, Tanzania. Methods: A cross sectional facility-based […]
Barriers in Implementing the PMTCT in Moretele Sub-District, South Africa: An Exploratory Study
The Prevention-of-Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program was introduced to prevent vertical transmission of HIV from a mother to her infant through pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding. Therefore, it is critical for the program to be accessible in primary health care facilities across the globe to increase treatment uptake and to eliminate child and maternal mortality rates caused […]
