Maternal and Infant Outcomes among Pregnant Women Treated for Multidrug/Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis in South Africa
Background: Data on safety and efficacy of second-line tuberculosis drugs in pregnant women and their infants are severely limited due to exclusion from clinical trials and expanded access programs. Methods: Pregnant women starting treatment for multidrug/rifampicin-resistant (MDR/RR)-tuberculosis at King Dinuzulu Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017, were included. […]
Estimating the public health burden associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes resulting from syphilis infection across 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Background: Untreated syphilis in pregnancy is associated with adverse clinical outcomes to the infant. The study aimed to estimate the public health burden resulting from adverse pregnancy outcomes due to syphilis infection among pregnant women not screened for syphilis in 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Estimated country-specific incidence of syphilis was generated from annual […]
Family Planning in the Sierra Leone Ebola Outbreak: Women’s Proximal and Distal Reasoning
Sierra Leone was highly impacted by the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, with 3,955 recorded deaths. Already stressed maternal health services were deeply affected by the outbreak due to fears of viral transmission, reallocation of maternity staff, and broader policies to stop transmission including travel restrictions. This research sought to explore women’s perspectives on delaying […]
Individual-level and community-level determinants of use of maternal health services in Northwest Ethiopia: a prospective follow-up study
Objective The use of maternal health services is an important indicator of maternal health and socioeconomic development. Evidence on individual-level and community-level determinants of use of maternal health services in Benishangul Gumuz Region was not well known so far. Hence, this study fills this gap. Design A prospective follow-up study Setting This study was conducted […]
Common perinatal mental disorders and post-infancy child development in rural Ethiopia: A population-based cohort study
Objective: To investigate whether maternal common mental disorders (CMD) in the postnatal period are prospectively associated with child development at 2.5 and 3.5 years in a rural low-income African setting. Methods: This study was nested within the C-MaMiE (Child outcomes in relation to Maternal Mental health in Ethiopia) population-based cohort in Butajira, Ethiopia, and conducted from […]
Determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea: evidence from the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey data
Background: Globally, maternal health remains a major priority. Most of maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with most of these deaths linked to lack of access to antenatal care and skilled assistance during delivery. This study assessed the determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea. Methods: […]
Prevalence and maternal socio-demographic factors associated with stillbirth in health facilities in Anambra, south-east Nigeria
Background: Stillbirth is a major adverse perinatal outcome especially in low and middle income countries across the globe. Certain factors relating to mothers from such countries may be associated with this adverse condition. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of stillbirth and also explore the maternal socio-demographic factors associated with stillbirth among mothers in rural communities […]
Tetanus Toxoid Immunization Status and Associated Factors among Mothers in Damboya Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone, SNNP, Ethiopia
Background. Tetanus toxoid immunization is one of the proven strategies for eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus. According to Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey of 2016, only 49% of mothers received two tetanus toxoid (TT) injections during their last pregnancy which is below the World Health Organization and Ethiopia Ministry of Health recommendation. Therefore, the aim of […]
Predictors of women’s utilization of primary health care for skilled pregnancy care in rural Nigeria
Background: Although Primary Health Care (PHC) was designed to provide universal access to skilled pregnancy care for the prevention of maternal deaths, very little is known of the factors that predict the use of PHC for skilled maternity care in rural parts of Nigeria – where its use is likely to have a greater positive […]
Maternal common mental disorder and infant growth -a cross-sectional study from Malawi
The objective of the study was to investigate the association between maternal common mental disorder (CMD) and infant growth in rural Malawi. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a district hospital child health clinic. Participants were consecutive infants due for measles vaccination, and their mothers. Mean infant weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores were compared between infants […]
