Perinatal mortality and its association with antenatal care visit, maternal tetanus toxoid immunization and partograph utilization in Ethiopia: a meta-analysis
Despite remarkable progress in the reduction of under-five mortality; perinatal mortality is the major public health problem in Africa. In Ethiopia, the study findings on perinatal mortality and its predictors were inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled perinatal mortality, and its association with antenatal care visit, maternal tetanus toxoid immunization, and […]
Don’t forget eclampsia in the efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality
Hypertensive disorders are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advances in prevention and clinical management, women in low-resource countries continue to bear the burden of the sequelae of severe pre-eclampsia–eclampsia. Sustainable strategies to improve the care of women with hypertensive disease, to identify those at risk for hypertensive disease, and to […]
Striving for excellence: Nurturing midwives’ skills in freetown, sierra leone
Midwives provide critical, life-saving care to women and babies. Effective midwives must be clinically competent, with the required knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide quality care. Their success depends on an environment of supportive supervision, continuing education, enabling policies, and access to equipment and referral facilities.In Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Aberdeen Women’s Centre launched a […]
A facility birth can be the time to start family planning: Postpartum intrauterine device experiences from six countries
Initiation of family planning at the time of birth is opportune, since few women in low-resource settings who give birth in a facility return for further care. Postpartum family planning (PPFP) and postpartum intrauterine device (PPIUD) services were integrated into maternal care in six low- and middle-income countries, applying an insertion technique developed in Paraguay. […]
Patterns of fertility preferences and contraceptive behaviour over time: change and continuities among the urban poor in Nairobi, Kenya
The main objective of this paper is to investigate the association between fertility preferences and contraceptive use among 15–49-year-old women living in Korogocho and Viwandani, informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. We draw on longitudinal data collected under the Maternal and Child Health project conducted between 2006 and 2010 in the two settlements. There is substantial […]
Risk factors for obstetric fistula in the Far North Province of Cameroon
Objective: To describe the circumstances of occurrence and identify potential risk factors for obstetric fistula in northern Cameroon. Methods: A case series study of 42 obstetric fistula patients seeking services at the Provincial Hospital of Maroua, Cameroon, between May 2005 and August 2007. Structured interviews were conducted prior to surgical intervention. Results: Among obstetric fistula […]
Preparing for Disease X: Ensuring Vaccine Equity for Pregnant Women in Future Pandemics
Disease X represents a yet unknown human pathogen which has potential to cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated that despite being at increased risk of severe disease compared with the general population, pregnant women were left behind in the development and implementation of vaccination, resulting in conflicting communications and […]
A mobile phone-based multimedia intervention to support maternal health is acceptable and feasible among illiterate pregnant women in Uganda: Qualitative findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial
Background: Uganda’s maternal mortality rate remains unacceptably high. Mobile phones can potentially provide affordable means of accessing maternal health services even among the otherwise hard-to-reach populations. Evidence about the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone-based interventions targeting illiterate women, however, is limited. Objective: To assess the acceptability and feasibility of a mobile phone-based multimedia application […]
Assessment of the quality of care in maternity waiting homes (MWHS) in Mulanje district, Malawi
Aim Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)in Malawi remains high at 439 deaths per 100,000 live births, primarily due to limited access to skilled birth care. Although Malawi established Maternity Waiting Homes (MWHs) to improve access to skilled labour, the quality of care provided in the homes has received limited assessment. The aim of this study was […]
Effects of Maternal Suicidal Ideation on Child Cognitive Development: A Longitudinal Analysis
This study aimed to assess the association between suicidal ideation among mothers living with HIV in Zimbabwe and the cognitive development of their children. Participants were mother–child dyads recruited from two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Data were collected at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Suicidal ideation was assessed using item-10 from the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. […]
