Socioeconomic inequality for hypertension among reproductive age women aged 15-49 from five Sub-Saharan Africa countries: A decomposition analysis of DHS Data.

Hypertension is a significant public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among reproductive-aged women. This study aims to assess and decompose socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension across five SSA countries using DHS data. Our study analyzed the latest Demographic and Health Survey data from five SSA countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Lesotho.

Implementation, effectiveness, and barriers of obstetric triage in reducing waiting time: a scoping review.

Background: The assessment of a pregnant woman typically begins at obstetric triage, where healthcare providers evaluate whether life-altering decisions are necessary for the woman and her unborn baby. This scoping review aimed to assess the lack of comprehensive evaluation of across diverse settings of the evidence on the effectiveness, implementation, and barriers to the successful implementation of obstetric triage during pregnancy and childbirth.

Methods: The Arksey and O'Malley scoping review methodological framework and Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' Manual were applied to conduct the scoping review.

Person-centred maternity care during childbirth: a systematic review in low and middle-income countries.

Background: Improving the quality of intrapartum and immediate postnatal care is critical for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review aimed to assess the extent of Person-Centred Maternity Care (PCMC) practices during childbirth in LMICs.

Methods: We retrieved studies from four databases, including PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Maternal and Infant Care, up to 30 May 2023 and updated 26 April 2024.

Population attributable fractions for modifiable risk factors of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality in 48 low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Identifying the modifiable risk factors for childhood mortality using population-attributable fractions (PAFs) estimates can inform public health planning and resource allocation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated PAFs for key population-level modifiable risk factors of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality in LMICs.

Methods: We used the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data sets (2010-22) from 48 LMICs, encompassing 35 sub-Saharan African countries and 13 countries from South and Southeast Asia (n = 506 989).

Retrospective observational study of the association of peak blood glucose during the second 24 hours of admission with hospital-acquired complications in non-critical care admissions to a tertiary referral teaching hospital.

Introduction: Stress hyperglycaemia at hospital presentation is associated with poorer outcomes. Less is known about the risk of poorer outcomes according to achieved glycaemia early in the admission.

Research Design/methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients admitted to non-critical care wards.

Patient demographics and psychotropic medication prescribing in Australian general practices: pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in the adult population significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rates of prescribing psychotropic medications in adults during the COVID-19 period have not been well explored. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the association between demographic characteristics and rates of prescribing psychotropic medications to general practice patients during 2018-2022.

Global Disparities of Cancer and Its Projected Burden in 2050.

Importance: Cancer prevention and care efforts have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, resulting in a decline in the global Human Development Index (HDI), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These challenges and subsequent shifts in health care priorities underscore the need to continuously monitor cancer outcome disparities and statistics globally to ensure delivery of equitable and optimal cancer prevention and care in uncertain times.

Objective: To measure the global burden of 36 cancers in 2022 by sex, age, and geographic location and to project future trends by 2050.

Spatiotemporal patterns and factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Ethiopia: Data from EDHS 2000 to 2019.

Background: Although Ethiopia has substantial improvements in various health indicators such as maternal and child mortality, the burden of neonatal mortality remains high. Between 2016 and 2019, neonatal mortality increased from 29 deaths per 1,000 live births to 33 deaths per 1,000 live births. This study aimed to explore the spatial patterns and factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Ethiopia.

Spatial patterns of maternal and neonatal continuum of care use and its correlations with women's empowerment.

Background: The continuum of care (CoC) in maternal health refers to the continuity of individual reproductive health care across the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods. The CoC is an indicator of the quality of maternal and newborn health outcomes and women's empowerment is crucial to improving maternal and neonatal health service access and utilisation.

Objective: To examine the spatial patterns of continuum of care use for maternal and neonatal health services and its correlation with women's empowerment.

Burden of 30 cancers among men: Global statistics in 2022 and projections for 2050 using population-based estimates.

Background: Men exhibit higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, leading to greater cancer incidence and lower survival rates. Comprehensive evidence on global cancer burden among men, including disparities by age group and country, is sparse. To address this, the authors analyzed 30 cancer types among men in 2022, with projections estimated for 2050.

The intergenerational association of preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Around half of preterm births lack identifiable causes, indicating the need for further investigation to understand preterm birth risk factors. Existing studies on the intergenerational association of preterm birth showed inconsistency in effect size and direction.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review existing studies and provide comprehensive evidence on the intergenerational association of preterm births.

One-Year Anti-VEGF Therapy Outcomes in Diabetic Macular Edema Based on Treatment Intensity: Data from the Fight Retinal Blindness! Registry.

Purpose: To compare 1-year outcomes of eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated in routine clinical practice based on the proportion of visits where intravitreal VEGF inhibitor injections were delivered.

Design: Cohort study.

Participants: There were 2288 treatment-naive eyes with DME starting intravitreal VEGF inhibitor therapy from October 31, 2015 to October 31, 2021 from the Fight Retinal Blindness! international outcomes registry.

Global burden of 34 cancers among women in 2020 and projections to 2040: Population-based data from 185 countries/territories.

Globally women face inequality in cancer outcomes; for example, smaller improvements in life expectancy due to decreased cancer-related deaths than men (0.5 vs 0.8 years, 1981-2010).

Unmet Supportive Care Needs Among Cancer Patients in Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Mixed Method Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Supportive cancer care is vital to reducing the current disparities in cancer outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including poor survival and low quality of life, and ultimately achieving equity in cancer care. This is the first review aimed to evaluate the extent of unmet supportive care needs and identify their contributing factors among patients with cancer in SSA.

Methods: Six electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline [Ovid], PsycINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane Library of Databases] were systematically searched.

Birth asphyxia related mortality in Northwest Ethiopia: A multi-centre cohort study.

Background: Birth asphyxia is the second leading cause of neonatal death in Ethiopia, next to preterm-associated infections. Understanding the causes of death in asphyxiated newborns will help to design appropriate care. This study identifies predictors of neonatal mortality in asphyxiated newborns in selected hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

The effect of distance to health facility on neonatal mortality in Ethiopia.

Introduction: In Ethiopia, more than half of newborn babies do not have access to Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) services. Understanding the effect of distance to health facilities on service use and neonatal survival is crucial to recommend policymakers and improving resource distribution. We aimed to investigate the effect of distance to health services on maternal service use and neonatal mortality.

Dental caries and associated factors among diabetic and nondiabetic adult patients attending Bichena Primary Hospital's Outpatient Department.

Purpose: Dental caries is a significant public health issue affecting both the diabetic and nondiabetic populations. However, the problem and associated factors of dental caries among diabetics and nondiabetics patients are not well-known in Ethiopia. This study aims to compare the prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among diabetic and nondiabetic patients at the Outpatient Department of Bichena Primary Hospital in Northwest, Ethiopia.

Bayesian spatial analysis of factors influencing neonatal mortality and its geographic variation in Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia is a Sub-Saharan country with very high neonatal mortality rates, varying across its regions. The rate of neonatal mortality reduction in Ethiopia is slow, and Ethiopia may not meet the third United Nations sustainable development target by 2030. This study aimed to investigate the spatial variations and contributing factors for neonatal mortality rates in Ethiopia.

Geographical accessibility of emergency neonatal care services in Ethiopia: analysis using the 2016 Ethiopian Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Survey.

Introduction: Access to emergency neonatal health services has not been explored widely in the Ethiopian context. Accessibility to health services is a function of the distribution and location of services, including distance, travel time, cost and convenience. Measuring the physical accessibility of health services contributes to understanding the performance of health systems, thereby enabling evidence-based health planning and policies.

Incidence and Predictors of Mortality among Preterm Neonates Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Prematurity is the most frequent cause of neonatal death and the second leading cause of under-five mortality. Preterm related complications accounts for 35 % of neonatal deaths within the first week after birth. So far, most studies done in Ethiopia have focused on estimating the prevalence and determinant factors of premature neonatal death.

The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in both developed and developing nations alike. Africa has one of the weakest health systems globally, but there is limited evidence on how the region is prepared for, impacted by and responded to the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL to search peer-reviewed articles and Google, Google Scholar and preprint sites for grey literature.