Spatial distribution and determinants of health care access barriers among female Pakistan youths: spatial and multilevel regression analysis.

Introduction: Ensuring universal access to high-quality healthcare services including services free from financial barriers, is a global priority. However, accessing healthcare services remains challenging for youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan. This study investigates the spatial distribution and determinants of healthcare access barriers among female youths in Pakistan.

Perinatal and Childhood Risk Factors of Adverse Early Childhood Developmental Outcomes: A Systematic Review Using a Socioecological Model.

Adverse early childhood developmental outcomes across physical, cognitive, language, communication, and socioemotional domains are major global health concerns. This systematic review aimed to synthesise perinatal and childhood risk factors using a socioecological model. We searched six databases for cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies published between January 2000 and January 2024.

Preferences of women for maternal healthcare services in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review of discrete choice experiments.

Background: Maternal healthcare service utilisation during pregnancy, childbirth and the subsequent postpartum periods could improve the health outcomes of women and newborns. However, women in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have a lower uptake of these services, which is partly attributed to a lack of access to preferred maternal health services. This study systematically synthesised evidence on women's preferences for maternal healthcare services in LMICs.

Trends in adverse perinatal outcomes and associated hospitalisations, emergency department presentations, and healthcare costs from birth to early childhood in the Northern Territory, Australia: A two-decade population-based study.

Adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational-age (SGA), and low birthweight (LBW), impact childhood health and impose substantial burdens. This retrospective cohort study included all births in the Northern Territory, Australia, from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2016, examining trends in these outcomes and related hospitalisations, emergency department (ED) presentations, and healthcare costs through June 30, 2021. Births were linked to hospitalisation, ED, and cost-weight data.

The association between sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy outcomes in the Northern Territory, Australia: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Often asymptomatic in nature, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent in women of reproductive ages, leading to adverse perinatal outcomes. This study investigated the association between STIs during pregnancy and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes using comprehensive population-linked data from the Northern Territory (NT), Australia.

Methods: This population-based retrospective cohort study examined births (live births and stillbirths) from the NT Perinatal Data Collection and the NT Notifiable Diseases register from 2005 to 2020.

Developmental vulnerability in children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Western Australia: a population-based study.

Background: Early childhood developmental adversities have long-term effects on educational and overall health outcomes. However, the developmental outcomes of children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between having a CALD backgrounds and developmental vulnerability in Western Australia.

The Process of Integrating Family Planning Services with Other Reproductive Health Services in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: In low-resource settings, fragmented family planning (FP) services limit contraceptive access, contributing to high unmet needs and unintended pregnancies. Integrating FP with existing reproductive health services can improve access and continuity of care. This review examines the integration strategies in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Stated preferences of adolescents and young adults for sexual and reproductive health services in Africa: a systematic review.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) constitute approximately 30% of the African population and face significant challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Low service uptake, despite availability, may indicate service provision misalignment with AYAs' preferences. This reflects the health sector gap and will partly compromise AYAs' rights.

Prenatal and early childhood exposure to biothermal stress and developmental vulnerability at school entry in Western Australia: a population-based cohort study.

Backgrounds: Rising global temperatures, including in Australia, increase biothermal stress. However, the impact of prenatal and childhood exposure to extreme biothermal stress, measured by the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), on early childhood developmental vulnerability remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between prenatal and early childhood exposure to biothermal stress and early childhood developmental vulnerability at school entry in Western Australia.

The role of women's empowerment in the uptake of maternal health services in low- and middle-income countries: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Women's empowerment directly influences the quality and timeliness of the maternal health care they receive; a lack thereof, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is likely to contribute to poor uptake of maternal healthcare. We aimed to evaluate the role of women's empowerment in maternal healthcare in LMICs.

Methods: We used the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data on 71 077 married/partnered women from 35 LMICs.

Indirect evidence of sex-selective abortion practices to the imbalanced sex ratio at birth in Australian migrant populations.

A skewed sex ratio at birth (SRB), commonly observed in countries with high son preference can be attributed to prenatal sex-selective abortion. However, the possibility of sex selection among migrants in high-income countries has received little attention. Our study aims to identify the indirect evidence of sex-selective abortion practices to the SRB imbalance in a large Australian cohort.

Changes in the contributions of risk factors to under-five mortality in low- and lower-middle-income countries (1997-2022): an analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data.

Background: Under-five mortality (U5M) is a critical public health challenge in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), where over 90% of global deaths occur. Despite progress, the changing contributions of risk factors to U5M in LLMICs remain unexplored.

Methods: We analysed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 24 LLMICs across two periods: 1997-2005 and 2016-2022.

Mapping traditional birth attendance in sub-Saharan Africa between 2012 and 2023: analysis of data from demographic and health surveys.

Background: Traditional birth attendance (TBA) remains common in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), impacting maternal and neonatal mortality rates. This study aimed at producing high-resolution geospatial estimates and identifying predictors of TBA-assisted childbirth in SSA.

Methods: We used the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data (2012-2023) from 32 SSA countries.

Integrating family planning with reproductive health services: A multi-case study protocol.

Background: Critical gaps exist in the provision of family planning services in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), hindering access. Integrating family planning services with existing health services offers a promising solution to enhance its accessibility. This multi-case study aims to analyse initiatives and develop a framework applicable to diverse resource-limited settings.

Low effective coverage of HIV testing and counselling services during antenatal care in Ethiopia: evidence from the demographic and health survey and service provision assessment.

Introduction: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission contributes to avert nearly 4000 new HIV infections in 2022. HIV testing and counselling (HTC) during antenatal care (ANC) is an effective strategy to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV. While the utilisation of HTC services in Ethiopia has been explored, there is limited evidence exploring the effective coverage of HTC during ANC.

Women's experiences and outcomes of abortion care in sub-Saharan countries: A mixed methods systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Abortion care experiences encompass various aspects, including women's decision-making capability, physical and emotional experiences, service provision, and post-abortion experiences. The lack of woman-centred and respectful abortion services, influenced by stigma and restrictive abortion laws in certain contexts, poses a public health concern. These challenges may lead to variations in women's experiences and care outcomes, potentially resulting in adverse physical, psychological, and emotional outcomes for individuals seeking abortions.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of One Health and zoonotic diseases among multisectoral collaborators in Bhutan: Results from a nationwide survey.

The One Health concept is increasingly employed to combat zoonotic diseases. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding One Health and zoonotic diseases among key sector professionals to identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing One Health strategies in Bhutan. A cross-sectional, facility-based study was used to conduct a nationwide online questionnaire survey using a validated and pre-tested questionnaire among professionals from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and universities.

Preconception care interventions among adolescents and young adults to prevent adverse maternal, perinatal and child health outcomes: An evidence gap map.

Objective: To identify gaps in existing evidence on preconception health interventions to improve the health outcomes of adolescents, young adults, and their offspring.

Study Design: Evidence gap map (EGM) METHODS: Following the Campbell guidelines, we included reviews and interventional studies identified through searches on Medline and other electronic databases from 2010 to July 18th, 2023. Dual screening of titles/abstracts and full texts was conducted on Covidence software, followed by quality assessment and development of 2D-EGM using the EPPI-Reviewer and Mapper software.

Risk factors of under-five and infant mortality: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Background: Ensuring child survival is a critical global challenge, requiring a robust and comprehensive understanding of the risk factors contributing to under-five mortality (U5M). We aimed to synthesise and summarise the current available evidence on risk factors of U5M and infant mortality worldwide to inform global child health programmes.

Methods: We searched six major databases (Embase, Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Global Health) and repositories of systematic reviews, as well as grey literature sources to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examined the associations between risk factors of U5M and infant mortality between 1 January 1990 and 4 March 2024.

Identifying critical periods of susceptibility for maternal exposure to biothermal stress and the risks of stillbirth and spontaneous preterm birth in Western Australia.

A few studies investigated critical periods of temperature and the risks of stillbirth and preterm birth. This study aimed to identify critical periods of composite biothermal stress (Universal Thermal Climate Index, UTCI) for stillbirth and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). From the Midwives Notification System, 415 271 singleton births between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2015, were linked to spatiotemporal UTCI in Western Australia.

Perinatal and early life risk factors of adverse early childhood developmental outcomes: Protocol for systematic review using socioecological model.

Background: Adverse early childhood developmental outcomes impact later schooling and adulthood life courses. However, there needs to be more comprehensive evidence on the effect of various perinatal and early life risk exposures. Hence, we aimed to systematically identify the various perinatal and early childhood risk factors using a socioecological model to inform appropriate prevention strategies.

Interpregnancy intervals and behavioural outcomes in children: A population-based longitudinal study.

Background: While the physical health consequence of short interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) is well documented, its mental health impact is not well explored. This study aimed to examine the associations between IPIs and behavioural outcomes in children born following the interval at four developmental time points between ages 7 and 16.

Methods: Our study sample comprised participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort, an ongoing population-based longitudinal birth cohort in Bristol, Avon, United Kingdom.

Development and validation of maternal social capital assessment tool in northwest Ethiopia.

Objective: To develop and validate a social capital assessment tool that considers the cultural and social realities of north-western Ethiopia.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was applied through rigorous phases. Existing measurement approaches for social capital are reviewed.

Stated preferences of adolescents and young adults for sexual and reproductive health services in Africa: a systematic review protocol.

Background: Adolescence and young adulthood are critical life stages with varied healthcare needs. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are often confronted with challenges in their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights. Uptake of SRH services among AYAs groups remains limited, especially in resource-limited settings.