Assessing Community Acceptance of Maternal Immunisation in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A Qualitative Investigation
Despite the significant benefits of maternal immunisation, uptake remains low in many parts of the world. In this qualitative study, we aimed to assess the factors that influence pregnant women’s decision to engage with maternal immunisation in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted in-depth interviews with a total of 28 purposively sampled pregnant women and […]
Identifying inequities in maternal and child health through risk stratification to inform health systems strengthening in Northern Togo
Objective In Togo, substantial progress in maternal and child health is needed to reach global development goals. To better inform clinic and community-based health services, this study identifies factors associated with maternal and child health care utilization in the Kara region of Northern Togo. Methods We conducted a population-representative household survey of four health clinic […]
The unmet need for Emergency Obstetric Care in Tanga Region, Tanzania
Background: Improving maternal health by reducing maternal mortality constitutes the fifth Millennium Development Goal and represents a key public health challenge in the United Republic of Tanzania. In response to the need to evaluate and monitor safe motherhood interventions, this study aims at assessing the coverage of obstetric care according to the Unmet Obstetric Need […]
Comparative models of biological and social pathways to predict child growth through age 2 years from birth cohorts in Brazil, India, the Philippines, and South Africa
Background: Early growth faltering accounts for one-third of child deaths, and adversely impacts the health and human capital of surviving children. Social as well as biological factors contribute to growth faltering, but their relative strength and interrelations in different contexts have not been fully described. Objective: The aim of this study was to use structural […]
Coverage of highly active antiretroviral therapy among postpartum women in Malawi
Summary: The expanding services of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa provide unique opportunities to reduce HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. In these settings, HIV prevalence among antenatal women remains high and treating eligible pregnant or breastfeeding women with antiretrovirals can substantially reduce transmission of HIV from the mother to her infant. However, identification of women […]
Approaches to accelerating the study of new antiretrovirals in pregnancy
Introduction: Women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant experience delayed access to or underinformed use of important new antiretroviral (ARV) drugs because of traditional drug development processes that ostensibly aim to reduce potential harm but effectively fail to ensure that timely information about safe and effective use in pregnancy is available. Discussion: The […]
Pre-pregnancy iodized salt improved children’s cognitive development in randomized trial in Ethiopia
The overarching Ethiopia project examined the effects of early market introduction of iodized salt on the growth and mental development of young children. Sixty districts were randomly assigned to intervention (early market access to iodized salt) or control (later access through market forces), and one community per district was randomly chosen as the sampling unit. […]
Improving maternal and newborn health services in Northeast Nigeria through a government-led partnership of stakeholders: A quasi-experimental study
Objectives This study aimed to quantify change in the coverage, quality and equity of essential maternal and newborn healthcare interventions in Gombe state, Northeast Nigeria, following a four year, government-led, maternal and newborn health intervention. Design Quasi-experimental plausibility study. Repeat cross-sectional household and linked health facility surveys were implemented in intervention and comparison areas. Setting […]
The triple threat of pregnancy, HIV infection and malaria: Reported causes of maternal mortality in two nationwide health facility assessments in Mozambique, 2007 and 2012
Background: The paper’s primary purpose is to determine changes in magnitude and causes of institutional maternal mortality in Mozambique. We also describe shifts in the location of institutional deaths and changes in availability of prevention and treatment measures for malaria and HIV infection. Methods: Two national cross-sectional assessments of health facilities with childbirth services were […]
Women’s Contributions to Biomedical Healthcare in Ghana: A Focus on Obuasi
From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valuable roles towards the development of every culture. Historically, their impacts in medicine and healthcare in general have been evident across time and space. Prior to European influx and the modernization of healthcare in Ghana, women delivered such roles that simulate […]
