Cost-effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine for malaria during pregnancy: an analysis using efficacy results from Uganda and Kenya, and pooled data

Background: Prevention of malaria infection during pregnancy in HIV-negative women currently relies on the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets together with intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). Increasing sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance in Africa threatens current prevention of malaria during pregnancy. Thus, a replacement for IPTp-SP is urgently needed, especially for locations with high sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine […]

Did saving mothers, giving life expand timely access to lifesaving care in Uganda? A spatial district-level analysis of travel time to emergency obstetric and newborn care

Introduction: Interventions for the Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL) initiative aimed to ensure all pregnant women in SMGL-supported districts have timely access to emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC). Spatial travel-time analyses provide a visualization of changes in timely access. Methods: We compared travel-time estimates to EmONC health facilities in SMGL-supported districts in western Uganda […]

Barriers in the delivery of emergency obstetric and neonatal care in post-conflict Africa: Qualitative case studies of Burundi and Northern Uganda

Objectives Maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates are particularly grim in conflict, postconflict and other crisis settings, a situation partly blamed on non-availability and/or poor quality of emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) services. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers to effective delivery of EmONC services in post-conflict Burundi and […]

Factors influencing health facility delivery in predominantly rural communities across the three ecological zones in Ghana: A cross-sectional study

Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality indicators remain high in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries. Both maternal and neonatal health outcomes improve when skilled personnel provide delivery services within health facilities. Determinants of delivery location are crucial to promoting health facility deliveries, but little research has been done on this issue in Ghana. This study […]

Effect of enhanced reminders on postnatal clinic attendance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: Failure to attend maternal health services is an intractable challenge for the health-care system in low- and middle-income countries. The use of technology for reminding patients about their appointments has been demonstrated to be an effective (future) tool toward increased health care services utilization in developing countries, such as Ethiopia. Objective: We aimed to […]

Birhan maternal and child health cohort: A study protocol

Introduction Reliable estimates on maternal and child morbidity and mortality are essential for health programmes and policies. Data are needed in populations, which have the highest burden of disease but also have the least evidence and research, to design and evaluate health interventions to prevent illnesses and deaths that occur worldwide each year. Methods and […]

Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study: Protocol of a pragmatic clinical effectiveness study to improve birth outcomes in Ethiopia

Introduction The WHO Nutrition Target aims to reduce the global prevalence of low birth weight by 30% by the year 2025. The Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study will test the impact of packages of pregnancy interventions to enhance maternal nutrition and infection management on birth outcomes in rural Ethiopia. Methods and analysis […]

Low utilization of insecticide-treated bed net among pregnant women in the middle belt of Ghana

Background. Malaria in pregnancy leads to low birth weight, premature birth, anaemia, and maternal and neonatalmortality. Use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) during pregnancy is one of the proven interventions to reduce themalaria burden. However, Ghana has not achieved its target for ITN use among pregnant women. Methods. A qualitative study was conducted in seven communities […]

Modifiable antenatal risk factors for stillbirth amongst pregnant women in the Omusati region, Namibia

Background: Reduction of stillbirth rates is important because of the social and economicimplications. Access to quality antenatal care is important in preventing the risk factorsassociated with stillbirth.Aim: To determine the prevalence of modifiable antenatal risk factors associated with stillbirthso as to determine possible gaps in their prevention.Setting: The study was conducted at four district hospitals […]

From local to global: A qualitative review of the multi-leveled impact of a multi-country health research capacity development partnership on maternal health in Sudan

Background: There is a substantial body of literature on the principles of good partnerships and the rationale for such partnerships in research capacity strengthening. This paper illustrates the long term effects of a multi-country (8 countries) global partnership for health systems research capacity development (Connecting health Research in Africa and Ireland Consortium – ChRAIC) in […]