Associations between birth kit use and maternal and neonatal health outcomes in rural Jigawa state, Nigeria: A secondary analysis of data from a cluster randomized controlled trial
Background The burden of maternal and neonatal mortality remains persistently high in Nigeria. Sepsis contributes significantly to both maternal and newborn mortality, and safe delivery kits have long been promoted as a cost-effective intervention to ensure hygienic delivery practices and reduce sepsis. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of home birth kit distribution […]
Reduced transplacental transfer of antimalarial antibodies in Kenyan HIV-exposed uninfected infants
Background. Altered neonatal immune responses may contribute to the increased morbidity observed in HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) infants compared with HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants. We sought to examine the effects of prenatal HIV and malaria exposure on maternal and neonatal plasma cytokine profiles and transplacental antibody transfer. Methods. Forty-nine HIV+ and 50 HIV- women and […]
The prevalence of histologic acute chorioamnionitis among HIV infected pregnant women in Uganda and its association with adverse birth outcomes
Background Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and longer-term morbidity. Acute chorioamnionitis (ACA) is a common cause of PTB, however, there are limited data on the prevalence of ACA and its association with PTB in resource limited settings. Methods Data and samples came from a clinical trial evaluating novel strategies for […]
Household wealth and maternal health: evidence from Ghana
Purpose: In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised upwards the recommended contacts for antenatal care (ANC) by expectant mothers with a health provider from a minimum of four to eight over the pregnancy period. Although Ghana is yet to adopt the new recommendation, some women choose to adhere to the new protocol because of […]
Household Socioeconomic Status and Antenatal Care Utilization Among Women in the Reproductive-Age
The study examined the effect of household socioeconomic status and other socio-demographic characteristics on antenatal care (ANC) utilization among 819 women within the reproductive ages across eight rural communities in Delta State, Southern part of Nigeria. Characteristics of the women were described using simple proportion and frequency. The chi-square test was used to examine factors […]
Using verbal and social autopsies to explore health-seeking behaviour among HIV-positive women in Kenya: A retrospective study
Background: There is limited understanding of the factors that influence decisions to seek HIV care and treatment services in community settings. The aim of this study was to explore the socio-cultural and health system factors affecting health-seeking behaviour among deceased women in Kenya who were living with HIV at the time of death.Methods: Out of […]
Factors associated with non-utilization of postnatal care among newborns in the first 2 days after birth in Pakistan: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Background: Recent data indicated that approximately four in every ten newborns in Pakistan do not receive postnatal care (PNC) services in the first 48 hours after delivery. Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors associated with the non-utilization of PNC for newborns in Pakistan using the 2017–18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS). Methods: This was […]
Under 10 mortality patterns, risk factors, and mechanisms in low resource settings of Eastern Uganda: An analysis of event history demographic and verbal social autopsy data
Background Globally, the under-10 years of age mortality has not been comprehensively studied. We applied the life-course perspective in the analysis and interpretation of the event history demographic and verbal autopsy data to examine when and why children die before their 10th birthday. Methods We analysed a decade (2005-2015) of event histories data on 22385 […]
Using audit to enhance quality of maternity care in resource limited countries: Lessons learnt from rural Tanzania
Background: Although clinical audit is an important instrument for quality care improvement, the concept has not yet been adequately taken on board in rural settings in most resource limited countries where the problem of maternal mortality is immense. Maternal mortality and morbidity audit was established at Saint Francis Designated District Hospital (SFDDH) in rural Tanzania […]
Remoteness and maternal and child health service utilization in rural Liberia: A population-based survey
Background This study seeks to understand distance from health facilities as a barrier to maternal and child health service uptake within a rural Liberian population. Better understanding the relationship between distance from health facilities and rural health care utilization is important for post-Ebola health systems reconstruction and for general rural health system planning in sub-Saharan […]
