Trends and determinants of complementary feeding practices in Tanzania, 2004-2016
Background: Following the successful implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) strategy in Tanzania, improvements in child health indicators were observed. However, it remains unclear whether complementary feeding practices have improved given the renewed global agenda on child nutrition. This study investigated trends and socioeconomic and health service factors of complementary feeding practices in Tanzania […]
Advancing the health of women and newborns: Predictors of patient satisfaction among women attending antenatal and maternity care in rural Rwanda
Objective: Identify predictors of patient satisfaction with antenatal care (ANC) and maternity services in rural Rwanda. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Twenty-six health facilities in Southern Kayonza (SK) and Kirehe districts. Participants: Sample of women ? 16 years old receiving antenatal and delivery care between November and December 2013. Intervention: Survey of patient satisfaction with antenatal and […]
Risk factors of dropout from institutional delivery among HIV positive antenatal care booked mothers within one year postpartum in Ethiopia: a case–control study
Background: The uptake of maternal healthcare services remains suboptimal in Ethiopia. Significant proportions of antenatal care attendees give birth at home in the context of HIV. However, in Ethiopia, evidence is scarce on the predictors of dropout from maternity continuum of care among HIV-positive mothers. Therefore, this study aimed to supply valuable information on risk […]
A Salivary Urea Nitrogen Dipstick to Detect Obstetric-Related Acute Kidney Disease in Malawi
Introduction: Obstetric-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with adverse outcomes for mother and fetus, particularly in low-income countries. However, laboratory-independent tools to facilitate diagnosis are lacking. We assessed the diagnostic performance of a salivary urea nitrogen (SUN) dipstick to detect obstetric-related acute kidney disease in Malawi. Methods: Women at high risk for AKI admitted […]
Survival of infants born to HIV-positive mothers, by feeding modality, in Rakai, Uganda
Background: Data comparing survival of formula-fed to breast-fed infants in programmatic settings are limited. We compared mortality and HIV-free of breast and formula-fed infants born to HIV-positive mothers in a program in rural, Rakai District Uganda. Methodology/Principal Findings: One hundred eighty two infants born to HIV-positive mothers were followed at one, six and twelve months […]
Addressing the interaction between food insecurity, depression risk and informal work: findings of a cross-sectional survey among informal women workers with young children in South Africa
BACKGROUND: There is a high burden of depression globally, including in South Africa. Maternal depression is associated with poverty, unstable income, food insecurity, and lack of partner support, and may lead to poor outcomes for mothers and children. In South Africa one-third of working women are in informal work, which is associated with socioeconomic vulnerability. […]
Quality of maternal obstetric and neonatal care in low-income countries: Development of a composite index
Background: In low-income countries, studies demonstrate greater access and utilization of maternal and neonatal health services, yet mortality rates remain high with poor quality increasingly scrutinized as a potential point of failure in achieving expected goals. Comprehensive measures reflecting the multi-dimensional nature of quality of care could prove useful to quality improvement. However, existing tools […]
Study protocol training for life: A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial about emergency obstetric simulation-based training in a low-income country
Background: Globally perinatal and maternal mortality rates remain unacceptably high. There is increasing evidence that simulation-based training in obstetric emergencies is associated with improvement in clinical outcomes. However, the results are not entirely consistent. The need for continued research in a wide variety of clinical settings to establish what works, where and why was recommended. […]
Inequalities in caesarean section in Burundi: Evidence from the Burundi Demographic and Health Surveys (2010-2016)
Background: Despite caesarean section (CS) being a lifesaving intervention, there is a noticeable gap in providing this service, when necessary, between different population groups within a country. In Burundi, there is little information about CS coverage inequality and the change in provision of this service over time. Using a high-quality equity analysis approach, we aimed […]
Declining child mortality in northern Malawi despite high rates of infection with HIV
Objective: To determine whether routine surveys, such as the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), have underestimated child mortality in Malawi. Methods: Rates and causes of child mortality were obtained from a continuous-registration demographic surveillance system (DSS) in Malawi for a population of 32 000. After initial census, births and deaths were reported by village informants […]
