Niger’s child survival success, contributing factors and challenges to sustainability: A retrospective analysis
Background: Household surveys undertaken in Niger since 1998 have revealed steady declines in under-5 mortality which have placed the country ‘on track’ to reach the fourth Millennium Development goal (MDG). This paper explores Niger’s mortality and health coverage data for children under-5 years of age up to 2012 to describe trends in high impact interventions […]
Longitudinal Assessment of Prenatal, Perinatal, and Early-Life Aflatoxin B1Exposure in 828 Mother-Child Dyads from Bangladesh and Malawi
Background: In utero or early-life exposure to aflatoxin, which contaminates staple crops in disadvantaged settings, may compromise pregnancy and infant outcomes, but investigations into the extent, persistence, and determinants of aflatoxin exposure at these life stages have lacked longitudinal data collection and broad geographic representation. Objectives: Aflatoxin exposure and selected determinants thereof were characterized in […]
Effect of umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping on preterm neonates in Kenya: A randomized controlled trial
Background Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is a placental to new-born transfusion strategy recommended by obstetric and gynaecological societies. Though not widely adopted, umbilical cord milking (UCM) may achieve faster transfusion when DCC cannot be performed such as when a neonate requires resuscitation. Methods Pragmatic, two-arm, randomized clinical trial in which consenting women in spontaneous labour […]
Trial of ready-to-use supplemental food and corn-soy blend in pregnant Malawian women with moderate malnutrition: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Background: Malnutrition during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa is associated with poor birth outcomes. Objective: This study compared maternal and offspring anthropometry for moderately malnourished pregnant women receiving ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF), a fortified corn-soy blend (CSB+) with a daily multiple micronutrient antenatal supplement [United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Preparation (UNIMMAP)], or standard of care comprising […]
Exploring Congolese refugees’ experiences with abortion care in Uganda: a multi-methods qualitative study
Uganda hosts 1.4 million refugees and conflict-affected people. Widely regarded as the best place in Africa to be a refugee, Uganda’s policies encourage self-sufficiency and local integration. However, abortion is legally restricted and recent studies suggest that displaced women and girls have persistent unmet sexual and reproductive health needs. In 2017, we conducted a multi-methods […]
Emergency transportation interventions for reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol
BACKGROUND: Transportation interventions seek to decrease delay in reaching a health facility for emergency obstetric care and are, thus, believed to contribute to reductions in such adverse pregnancy and childbirth outcomes as maternal deaths, stillbirths, and neonatal mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, there is limited empirical evidence to support this hypothesis. The […]
Effect of health facility linkage with community using postnatal card on postnatal home visit coverage and newborn care practices in rural Ethiopia: A controlled quasi-experimental study design
Background Postnatal home visit has the potential to improve maternal and newborn health, but it remains as a missed opportunity in many low-and middle-income countries. This study examines the effect of health extension worker administered postnatal card combined with health facility strengthening intervention on postnatal home visit coverage, newborn care practices, and knowledge of newborn […]
A Risk Prediction Model for the Assessment and Triage of Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Low-Resourced Settings: The miniPIERS (Pre-eclampsia Integrated Estimate of RiSk) Multi-country Prospective Cohort Study
Background:Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia are leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). We developed the miniPIERS risk prediction model to provide a simple, evidence-based tool to identify pregnant women in LMICs at increased risk of death or major hypertensive-related complications.Methods and Findings:From 1 July 2008 to 31 March 2012, in […]
Understanding abortion-related complications in health facilities: Results from WHO multicountry survey on abortion (MCS-A) across 11 sub-Saharan African countries
Introduction Complications due to unsafe abortions are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many sub-Saharan African countries. We aimed to characterise abortion-related complication severity, describe their management, and to report women’s experience of abortion care in Africa. Methods A cross-sectional study was implemented in 210 health facilities across 11 sub-Saharan African countries. Data […]
Prevalence and correlates of asymptomatic malaria and anemia on first antenatal care visit among pregnant women in Southeast, Tanzania
Asymptomatic malaria and anemia during pregnancy increase the risk of negative birth outcomes. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and correlates of asymptomatic malaria and anemia during first antenatal care (ANC) visit among pregnant women in a rural district, Tanzania. HIV-uninfected pregnant women without symptoms of malaria (n = 819) attending their first ANC at […]
