Articles

Application of quantitative lung ultrasound instead of CT for monitoring COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women: a single-center retrospective study

Computed tomography (CT) is the preferred imaging technique for the evaluation of COVID-19 pneumonia. However, it is not suitable as a monitoring tool for pregnant women because of the risk of ionizing radiati...

Authors: Qing Deng, Sheng Cao, Hao Wang, Yao Zhang, Liao Chen, Zhaohui Yang, Zhoufeng Peng and Qing Zhou

The influence of exercise during pregnancy on racial/ethnic health disparities and birth outcomes

Non-Hispanic black (NHB) pregnant women disproportionately experience adverse birth outcomes compared to Non-Hispanic white (NHW) pregnant women. The positive effects of prenatal exercise on maternal and neona...

Authors: Madigan J. Raper, Samantha McDonald, Carol Johnston, Christy Isler, Edward Newton, Devon Kuehn, David Collier, Nicholas T. Broskey, Adrienne Muldrow and Linda E. May

Parity and the risks of adverse birth outcomes: a retrospective study among Chinese

Nulliparity is considered to be a risk factor of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). With the new two-child policy launched in 2016, more Chinese women have deliver...

Authors: Li Lin, Ciyong Lu, Weiqing Chen, Chunrong Li and Vivian Yawei Guo

Waterbirth: a national retrospective cohort study of factors associated with its use among women in England

Waterbirth is widely available in English maternity settings for women who are not at increased risk of complications during labour. Immersion in water during labour is associated with a number of maternal ben...

Authors: H. Aughey, J. Jardine, N. Moitt, K. Fearon, J. Hawdon, D. Pasupathy, I. Urganci and T. Harris

Effect of perinatal depression on risk of adverse infant health outcomes in mother-infant dyads in Gondar town: a causal analysis

Approximately one-third of pregnant and postnatal women in Ethiopia experience depression posing a substantial health burden for these women and their families. Although associations between postnatal depressi...

Authors: Abel Fekadu Dadi, Emma R. Miller, Richard J. Woodman, Telake Azale and Lillian Mwanri

Health outcomes of smoking during pregnancy and the postpartum period: an umbrella review

Smoking during pregnancy (SDP) and the postpartum period has serious health outcomes for the mother and infant. Although some systematic reviews have shown the impact of maternal SDP on particular conditions, ...

Authors: Tuba Saygın Avşar, Hugh McLeod and Louise Jackson

Prevalence and associated factors of adolescent pregnancy (15–19 years) in East Africa: a multilevel analysis

Adolescent pregnancy is a major public health problem both in developed and developing countries with huge consequences to maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. However, there is limited evidence on the prev...

Authors: Misganaw Gebrie Worku, Zemenu Tadesse Tessema, Achamyeleh Birhanu Teshale, Getayeneh Antehunegn Tesema and Yigizie Yeshaw

Explaining the concept of maternal health information verification and assessment during pregnancy: a qualitative study

Pregnant women use information sources for their own health and health of their children. However, despite the importance of trusting the information sources, pregnant women may not have the ability to verify ...

Authors: Safoura Taheri, Mahmoud Tavousi, Zohre Momenimovahed, Ashraf Direkvand-Moghadam, Nazanin Rezaei, Nasibeh Sharifi and Ziba Taghizadeh

Birthweight: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Accurate birthweight is critical to inform clinical care at the individual level and tracking progress towards national/global targets at the population level. Low birthweight (LBW) < 2500 g affects over 20.5 ...

Authors: Stefanie Kong, Louise T. Day, Sojib Bin Zaman, Kimberly Peven, Nahya Salim, Avinash K. Sunny, Donat Shamba, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Ashish K.C., Harriet Ruysen, Shams El Arifeen, Paul Mee, Miriam E. Gladstone, Hannah Blencowe and Joy E. Lawn

Chlorhexidine for facility-based umbilical cord care: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Umbilical cord hygiene prevents sepsis, a leading cause of neonatal mortality. The World Health Organization recommends 7.1% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) application to the umbilicus after home birth in hig...

Authors: Sojib Bin Zaman, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Harriet Ruysen, Ashish KC, Kimberly Peven, Shafiqul Ameen, Nishant Thakur, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Nahya Salim, Rejina Gurung, Tazeen Tahsina, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Patricia S. Coffey, Barbara Rawlins, Louise T. Day, Joy E. Lawn…

Survey of women’s report for 33 maternal and newborn indicators: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Population-based household surveys, notably the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), remain the main source of maternal and newborn health data for many low- and ...

Authors: Shafiqul Ameen, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Kimberly Peven, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Louise T. Day, Josephine Shabani, Ashish KC, Dorothy Boggs, Donat Shamba, Tazeen Tahsina, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Sojib Bin Zaman, Aniqa Tasnim Hossain, Anisuddin Ahmed, Omkar Basnet, Honey Malla…

Immediate newborn care and breastfeeding: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Immediate newborn care (INC) practices, notably early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), are fundamental for newborn health. However, coverage tracking currently relies on household survey data in many settin...

Authors: Tazeen Tahsina, Aniqa Tasnim Hossain, Harriet Ruysen, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Louise T. Day, Kimberly Peven, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Jasmin Khan, Josephine Shabani, Ashish KC, Tapas Mazumder, Sojib Bin Zaman, Shafiqul Ameen, Stefanie Kong, Agbessi Amouzou, Ornella Lincetto…

Counting on birth registration: mixed-methods research in two EN-BIRTH study hospitals in Tanzania

Birth registration marks a child’s right to identity and is the first step to establishing citizenship and access to services. At the population level, birth registration data can inform effective programming ...

Authors: Sarah Reed, Josephine Shabani, Dorothy Boggs, Nahya Salim, Sillanoga Ng’unga, Louise T. Day, Kimberly Peven, Stefanie Kong, Harriet Ruysen, Debra Jackson, Donat Shamba and Joy E. Lawn

Neonatal resuscitation: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Annually, 14 million newborns require stimulation to initiate breathing at birth and 6 million require bag-mask-ventilation (BMV). Many countries have invested in facility-based neonatal resuscitation equipmen...

Authors: Ashish KC, Kimberly Peven, Shafiqul Ameen, Georgina Msemo, Omkar Basnet, Harriet Ruysen, Sojib Bin Zaman, Martha Mkony, Avinash K. Sunny, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Josephine Shabani, Ram Chandra Bastola, Evelyne Assenga, Naresh P. KC, Shams El Arifeen, Edward Kija…

Electronic data collection for multi-country, hospital-based, clinical observation of maternal and newborn care: EN-BIRTH study experiences

Observation of care at birth is challenging with multiple, rapid and potentially concurrent events occurring for mother, newborn and placenta. Design of electronic data (E-data) collection needs to account for...

Authors: Harriet Ruysen, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Vladimir Sergeevich Gordeev, Tanvir Hossain, Omkar Basnet, Kizito Shirima, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Sojib Bin Zaman, Nisha Rana, Nahya Salim, Tazeen Tahsina, Georgia R. Gore-Langton, Shafiqul Ameen, Dorothy Boggs, Stefanie Kong, Louise T. Day…

Barriers and enablers to routine register data collection for newborns and mothers: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Policymakers need regular high-quality coverage data on care around the time of birth to accelerate progress for ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. With increasing facility births,...

Authors: Donat Shamba, Louise T. Day, Sojib Bin Zaman, Avinash K. Sunny, Menna Narcis Tarimo, Kimberly Peven, Jasmin Khan, Nishant Thakur, Md. Taqbir Us Samad Talha, Ashish K.C., Rajib Haider, Harriet Ruysen, Tapas Mazumder, Md. Hafizur Rahman, Md. Ziaul Haque Shaikh, Johan Ivar Sæbø…

Birthweight measurement processes and perceived value: qualitative research in one EN-BIRTH study hospital in Tanzania

Globally an estimated 20.5 million liveborn babies are low birthweight (LBW) each year, weighing less than 2500 g. LBW babies have increased risk of mortality even beyond the neonatal period, with an ongoing r...

Authors: Miriam E. Gladstone, Nahya Salim, Karama Ogillo, Donat Shamba, Georgia R. Gore-Langton, Louise T. Day, Hannah Blencowe and Joy E. Lawn

Kangaroo mother care: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) reduces mortality among stable neonates ≤2000 g. Lack of data tracking coverage and quality of KMC in both surveys and routine information systems impedes scale-up. This paper evalua...

Authors: Nahya Salim, Josephine Shabani, Kimberly Peven, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Ashish KC, Donat Shamba, Harriet Ruysen, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Naresh KC, Namala Mkopi, Sojib Bin Zaman, Kizito Shirima, Shafiqul Ameen, Stefanie Kong, Omkar Basnet, Karim Manji…

Uterotonics for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends uterotonic administration for every woman after birth to prevent PPH....

Authors: Harriet Ruysen, Josephine Shabani, Claudia Hanson, Louise T. Day, Andrea B. Pembe, Kimberly Peven, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Nishant Thakur, Kizito Shirima, Tazeen Tahsina, Rejina Gurung, Menna Narcis Tarimo, Allisyn C. Moran and Joy E. Lawn

Antibiotic use for inpatient newborn care with suspected infection: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

An estimated 30 million neonates require inpatient care annually, many with life-threatening infections. Appropriate antibiotic management is crucial, yet there is no routine measurement of coverage. The Every Ne...

Authors: Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Aniqa Tasnim Hossain, Sojib Bin Zaman, Nahya Salim, Ashish K.C., Louise T. Day, Shafiqul Ameen, Harriet Ruysen, Edward Kija, Kimberly Peven, Tazeen Tahsina, Anisuddin Ahmed, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Jasmin Khan, Stefanie Kong, Harry Campbell…

Respectful maternal and newborn care: measurement in one EN-BIRTH study hospital in Nepal

Respectful maternal and newborn care (RMNC) is an important component of high-quality care but progress is impeded by critical measurement gaps for women and newborns. The Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research ...

Authors: Rejina Gurung, Harriet Ruysen, Avinash K. Sunny, Louise T. Day, Loveday Penn-Kekana, Mats Målqvist, Binda Ghimire, Dela Singh, Omkar Basnet, Srijana Sharma, Theresa Shaver, Allisyn C. Moran, Joy E. Lawn and Ashish KC

Count every newborn: EN-BIRTH study improving facility-based coverage and quality measurement in routine information systems

Authors: Allisyn C. Moran and Jennifer Requejo

Stillbirths including intrapartum timing: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study

An estimated >2 million babies stillborn around the world each year lack visibility. Low- and middle-income countries carry 84% of the burden yet have the least data. Most births are now in facilities, hence r...

Authors: Kimberly Peven, Louise T. Day, Harriet Ruysen, Tazeen Tahsina, Ashish KC, Josephine Shabani, Stefanie Kong, Shafiqul Ameen, Omkar Basnet, Rajib Haider, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Hannah Blencowe and Joy E. Lawn

A core outcome set development for a French national prospective study about the effect of mediolateral episiotomy on obstetric anal sphincter injury during operative vaginal delivery (INSTRUMODA)

We aimed at developing a core outcome and variables of interest set to investigate the effects of mediolateral episiotomy on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI) during and after operative delivery in nullip...

Authors: Bertrand Gachon, Thomas Schmitz, France Artzner, Olivier Parant, Renaud De Tayrac, Guillaume Ducarme, Camille Le Ray, Anne Cécile Pizzoferrato, Charles Garabedian, Didier Riethmuller, Fabrice Pierre, Stephanie Ragot and Xavier Fritel

Biomarkers for a histological chorioamnionitis diagnosis in pregnant women with or without group B streptococcus infection: a case-control study

Chorioamnionitis may cause serious perinatal and neonatal adverse outcomes, and group B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most common bacteria isolated from human chorioamnionitis. The present study analyzed t...

Authors: Jie Ren, Zhe Qiang, Yuan-yuan Li and Jun-na Zhang

Virtual reality applications to assist pregnant women: a scoping review

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer technology that simulates the real world to allow users to communicate with a similar but artificial environment. VR technologies can be used in pregnancy to help mothers gai...

Authors: Sadrieh Hajesmaeel-Gohari, Fatemeh Sarpourian and Elaheh Shafiei

The effectiveness of the laid-back position on lactation-related nipple problems and comfort: a meta-analysis

The importance of breastfeeding for maternal and child health is agreed upon worldwide. However, lactation-related nipple problems are common and are important factors affecting breastfeeding. Multiple studies...

Authors: Zhi Wang, Qiuyue Liu, Lihua Min and Xiaorong Mao

Current trends and geographical differences in therapeutic profile and outcomes of COVID-19 among pregnant women - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Due to the lack of effective treatments for COVID-19, it becomes imperative to assess the geographical differences and trends...

Authors: Pallavi Dubey, Bhaskar Thakur, Sireesha Reddy, Carla A. Martinez, Md Nurunnabi, Sharron L. Manuel, Sadhana Chheda, Christina Bracamontes and Alok K. Dwivedi

Impact of gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosed during the third trimester on pregnancy outcomes: a case-control study

In 2010, the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) proposed new criteria indicating that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can be diagnosed if the fasting threshold of ≤92 ...

Authors: Ryosuke Shindo, Shigeru Aoki, Sayuri Nakanishi, Toshihiro Misumi and Etsuko Miyagi

Intrafetal laser therapy in a monochorionic diamniotic triplet pregnancy with two acardiac fetuses: a case report and literature review

Monochorionic diamniotic triplet pregnancies are rare. Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence in monochorionic triplet pregnancies is extremely rare, and it is associated with high perinatal morbidity and m...

Authors: Guiqiong Huang, Hua Liao, Qing Hu, Xiaodong Wang and Haiyan Yu

Caesarean section in pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Caesarean section rates are higher among pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) compared to spontaneous conceptions (SC), implying an increase in neonatal and maternal morbidity. We ai...

Authors: Nakeisha A. Lodge-Tulloch, Flavia T. S. Elias, Jessica Pudwell, Laura Gaudet, Mark Walker, Graeme N. Smith and Maria P. Velez

Maternal-foetal complications in pregnancy: a retrospective comparison between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim of the study was a retrospective comparison of the differences in maternal-foetal outcomes between women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM).

Authors: Valentina Guarnotta, Mariagrazia Irene Mineo, Emanuela Giacchetto, Maria Pia Imbergamo and Carla Giordano

Letter to the Editor in response to ‘Parental attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnancies complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a cohort study’

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome is a highly morbid condition that can affect parental attachment and depression risk. Studies addressing this rare condition are hard to conduct and thus lacking in the literatur...

Authors: Georges Rameh, Pia Tohme, Rudy Abi-Habib and Gihad E Chalouhi

Authors’ reply to: Letter to the Editor in response to ‘Parental attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnancies complicated by twin‐twin transfusion syndrome: a cohort study’

In this correspondence we thank the authors for highlighting the importance of our work, and agree with the limitations they have raised regarding performing this study.

Authors: Fiona L. Mackie, R. Katie Morris and Mark D. Kilby

Factors and outcomes associated with the induction of labor in referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia: a multicenter study

Induction of labor is an artificial initiation of uterine contractions after fetal viability with the aim of vaginal delivery prior to the onset of spontaneous labor. Prevalence of induction of labor is increa...

Authors: Tibeb Zena Debele, Endeshaw Admassu Cherkos, Marta Berta Badi, Kiber Temesgen Anteneh, Fitsum Wolde Demssie, Abdella Amano Abdo and Muhabaw Shumye Mihret

Decision to delivery interval and associated factors for emergency cesarean section: a cross-sectional study

Emergency cesarean section is a commonly performed surgical procedure in pregnant women with life-threatening conditions of the mother and/or fetus. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologis...

Authors: Tebabere Moltot Kitaw, Simachew Kassa Limenh, Fantahun Alemnew Chekole, Simegnew Asmer Getie, Belete Negese Gemeda and Abayneh Shewangzaw Engda

Metabolic parameters in cord blood of neonate of mothers with obese and non-obese PCOS and controls: retrospective cohort study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by reproductive disorder and increased risk of metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to assess the metabolic parameters in the cord blood of neonate of mothers wit...

Authors: Sanaz Alizadeh, Shahideh Jahanian Sadatmahalleh, Fatemeh Razavinia, Mahnaz Bahri Khomami, Malihe Nasiri, Ashraf Moini and Saeideh Ziaei

Design and psychometric evaluation of the fathers’ fear of childbirth scale: a mixed method study

Fear of childbirth is reported in 13% of fathers, and it may have adverse consequences for the fathers’ health as well as their families. To reduce the fear of childbirth in the expectant fathers, an appropria...

Authors: Seyedeh Fatemeh Ghaffari, Seyed-Hamid Sharifnia, Forouzan Elyasi, Zohreh Shahhosseini and Zohre Mohammadpoorsaravimozafar

The effect of solution-focused counseling on violence rate and quality of life of pregnant women at risk of domestic violence: a randomized controlled trial

Domestic violence during pregnancy as one of the most common social problems and major challenges of health systems can affect the health of the mother and fetus. The study aimed to compare the two groups of i...

Authors: Sepideh Dinmohammadi, Mohsen Dadashi, Elahe Ahmadnia, Leila Janani and Roghieh Kharaghani

Quality of care in the free maternal healthcare era in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of providers’ and managers’ perceptions

Free maternal healthcare financing schemes play an essential role in the quality of services rendered to clients during antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, healthcare managers’ and providers’ ...

Authors: Monica Ansu-Mensah, Frederick Inkum Danquah, Vitalis Bawontuo, Peter Ansu-Mensah, Tahiru Mohammed, Roseline H. Udoh and Desmond Kuupiel

Body perception disturbances in women with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain and their role in the persistence of pain postpartum

Lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is common during pregnancy and can have long-lasting negative consequences in terms of disability and reduced quality of life. Therefore, it is crucial to identify women at risk of havin...

Authors: Nina Goossens, Inge Geraerts, Lizelotte Vandenplas, Zahra Van Veldhoven, Anne Asnong and Lotte Janssens

Psychometric properties of a Persian version of respectful maternity care questionnaire

Providing high quality and respectful care during pregnancy and birth is one of the ways to reduce complications in women. Respectful care is a type of care that requires a valid instrument to measure. This st...

Authors: Mina Esmkhani, Masoumeh Namadian, Ali Nooroozy and Jeffrey E. Korte

Maternal and neonatal data collection systems in low- and middle-income countries for maternal vaccines active safety surveillance systems: A scoping review

Most post-licensure vaccine pharmacovigilance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are passive reporting systems. These have limited utility for maternal immunization pharmacovigilance in LMIC settings ...

Authors: Mabel Berrueta, Agustin Ciapponi, Ariel Bardach, Federico Rodriguez Cairoli, Fabricio J. Castellano, Xu Xiong, Andy Stergachis, Sabra Zaraa, Ajoke Sobanjo-ter Meulen and Pierre Buekens

Weight gain after diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and excessive body weight are two key risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes. However, it is not clear whether restricted gestational weight gain (GWG) is favorable to ...

Authors: Wei Zheng, Wenyu Huang, Cheng Liu, Qi Yan, Li Zhang, Zhihong Tian, Xianxian Yuan and Guanghui Li

Association between migration status and caesarean section delivery based on a modified Robson classification in China

China has one of the highest caesarean section (C-Section) rates in the world. In recent years, China has been experiencing a massive flow of migration due to rapid urbanization. In this study, we aimed to dif...

Authors: Ming Liu, Mengqi Xue, Qing Yang, Wenchong Du, Xiaoling Yan, Jing Tan, Tao Duan and Jing Hua

Prevalence of congenital microcephaly and its risk factors in an area at risk of Zika outbreaks

Prevalence of neonatal microcephaly in populations without Zika-epidemics is sparse. The study aimed to report baseline prevalence of congenital microcephaly and its relationship with prenatal factors in an ar...

Authors: Songying Shen, Wanqing Xiao, Lifang Zhang, Jinhua Lu, Anna Funk, Jianrong He, Si Tu, Jia Yu, Li Yang, Arnaud Fontanet, Wei Bao, Kar Keung Cheng and Xiu Qiu

Neonatal care practices in Buikwe District, Uganda: a qualitative study

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest neonatal mortality rate, with Uganda reporting 20 deaths per 1000 live births. The Uganda Clinical Guidelines (UCG) from 2016 have detailed descriptions on car...

Authors: Marte Bodil Roed, Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv Engebretsen and Robert Mangeni

Samba II PCR testing for COVID-19 in pregnant women: a retrospective cohort study and literature review

Asymptomatic carriage of COVID-19 in pregnant women has been reported and could lead to outbreaks in maternity units. We sought to ascertain the impact of rapid isothernal nucleic acid based testing for COVID-...

Authors: Ruiling Xu, Tara Alicia Pauley, Hannah Missfelder-Lobos, Richard John Haddon, Ravindra Kumar Gupta and Hsu Phern Chong

Marginal cord insertion among singleton births at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Umbilical cord may insert abnormally i.e. marginal insertion to a placenta which can cause different birth and perinatal complications. Despite the increased effort taken by different responsible bodies, the p...

Authors: Hailu Aragie and Mohammed Oumer

Effects of antenatal care service utilization on maternal near miss in Gamo Gofa zone, southern Ethiopia: retrospective cohort study

Antenatal care (ANC) provides an opportunity to prevent, identify and intervene maternal health problems. Maternal near miss (MNM), as an indicator of maternal health, is increasingly gaining global attention ...

Authors: Tayue Tateke Kebede, Wanzahun Godana, Mesfin Mamo Utaile and Yemisirach Berhanu Sebsibe