Improving access to skilled attendance at delivery: A policy brief for Uganda
Objective: This study describes the process of production, findings for a policy brief on Increasing Access to Skilled Birth Attendance, and subsequent use of the report by policy makers and others from the health sector in Uganda. Methods: The methods used to prepare the policy brief use the SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health policy making. […]
Healthcare workers’ behaviors and personal determinants associated with providing adequate sexual and reproductive healthcare services in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Background: Healthcare workers may affect the utilization of sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) services, and quality of care thereof, for example by their behaviours or attitudes they hold. This can become a hindrance to accessing and utilizing SRH services, particularly by young people, and thus a better understanding of these behaviours and associated factors is […]
Factors associated with stunting among children under 5 years in five south asian countries (2014–2018): Analysis of demographic health surveys
South Asia continues to be the global hub for child undernutrition with 35% of children still stunted in 2017. This paper aimed to identify factors associated with stunting among children aged 0–23 months, 24–59 months, and 0–59 months in South Asia. A weighted sample of 564,518 children aged 0–59 months from the most recent Demographic […]
The effect of a decision-support mHealth application on maternal and neonatal outcomes in two district hospitals in Rwanda: pre – post intervention study
Background: Globally, mobile health (mHealth) applications are known for their potential to improve healthcare providers’ access to relevant and reliable health information. Besides, electronic decision support tools, such as the Safe Delivery mHealth Application (SDA), may help to reduce clinical errors and to ensure quality care at the point of service delivery. The current study […]
Determinants of utilization of antenatal care services in developing countries: Recent evidence from Ghana
The purpose of this paper is to estimate the key socio-economic and demographic factors influencing the utilization of antenatal care services in Ghana. The paper utilizes the most recent Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS V) data. The dependent variable is the intensity of utilization (number) of antenatal care visits. Hence, the negative binomial regression […]
Assessment of the quality of antenatal care in Mozambique
Objective: To assess the quality of antenatal care and its covariates among postpartum women in Mozambique. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was undertaken either at the maternity hospital or at home, in Mozambique, in 2019. Participants: A total of 393 women aged 18 to 49 years were interviewed immediately after giving birth. Measurements: The […]
Availability and use of emergency obstetric services: Kenya, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, and Uganda
The article summarises the baseline assessments of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) carried out in Uganda, Kenya, Southern Sudan, and Rwanda in 2003 and 2004. Objectives: Our objectives were to: (1) set up program baselines on the availability and utilization of EmOC services in these countries; (2) identify gaps and obstacles in providing EmOC services; and […]
Migration and first-year maternal mortality among HIV-positive postpartum women: A population-based longitudinal study in rural South Africa
Background In South Africa, within-country migration is common. Mobility affects many of the factors in the pathway for entry to or retention in care among people living with HIV. We characterized the patterns of migration (i.e., change in residency) among peripartum women from rural South Africa and their association with first-year postpartum mortality. Methods and […]
A case-control study of factors associated with caesarean sections at health facilities in Kabarole district, western Uganda, 2016
Introduction: World Health Organization estimates that the appropriate caesarean section rates should range from 10% to 15% at the population level. There is limited access and utilisation of caesarean section services in Uganda. This case-control study explored factors associated with caesarean section delivery, focusing on service-related and individual level factors. Methods: we interviewed 134 cases […]
Exclusive breastfeeding rates and associated factors in 13 “economic community of West African states” (ECOWAS) countries
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has important protective effects on child survival and also increases the growth and development of infants. This paper examined EBF rates and associated factors in 13 “Economic Community of West African States” (ECOWAS) countries. A weighted sample of 19,735 infants from the recent Demographic and Health Survey dataset in ECOWAS countries for […]
