Preterm birth, low birth weight, and their co-occurrence among women with preexisting chronic diseases prior to conception: a cross-sectional analysis of postpartum women in a low-resource setting in Ghana.

Background: The incidence of chronic diseases, which are significant contributors to maternal deaths and adverse new-born outcomes, is increasing among women of reproductive age in northern Ghana. This emerging health issue raises serious concerns about the potential exacerbation of adverse birth outcomes in this setting, given that it is one of the regions in the country with a high incidence of such outcomes. We investigated the risks of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and concurrent PTB and LBW among women with preexisting chronic conditions prior to conception in the Tamale Metropolis of northern Ghana.

Infant and young child feeding practices among mothers in the pilot Micronutrient Powder Initiative in four geographically and ethnically diverse districts in Ghana.

In Ghana, breastfeeding and complementary feeding counselling have been used as a nutritional intervention to promote optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and nutrition. This study examined IYCF practices in four geographically and ethnically diverse districts (Ho West, Tain, Talensi and Tolon). A qualitative study involving key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted between November and December 2019 among women who participated in a pilot micronutrient powder intervention for children 6-23 months of age.

Access to basic sanitation facilities reduces the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age in sub-saharan Africa.

Background: The prevalence (≈ 30%) of anaemia among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a significant concern. Additionally, less than half of households in the region have access to basic sanitation facilities, raising questions about the potential role of poor sanitation in increasing anaemia prevalence. To address this, we examined the relationship between access to basic sanitation facilities and the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age in SSA.

Association between exposure to intimate partner violence and the nutritional status of women and children in Nigeria.

Background: Globally, intimate partner violence (IPV) epitomizes a greater proportion of the violence experienced by women, with more than a third of women (41.3%) in sub-Saharan Africa reporting IPV during their lifetime. This study examined the association between exposure to IPV and the nutritional status of women and their children in Nigeria.

A School-Based Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Program Effectively Reduces Anemia in a Prospective Cohort of Ghanaian Adolescent Girls.

Background: School-based iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation is recommended for adolescent girls in countries with high burdens of anemia.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the context-specific effectiveness of a school-based, integrated anemia control program with IFA supplementation in Ghana.

Methods: Using data from a pre-post, longitudinal program evaluation, we evaluated the effectiveness of school-based weekly IFA supplementation in reducing the burden of anemia and increasing hemoglobin concentrations (Hb; primary outcomes) in 2 regions of Ghana.

Lessons learned from implementing the pilot Micronutrient Powder Initiative in four districts in Ghana.

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies affect many children in low-income settings due primarily to over-reliance on complementary foods low in nutrients. Home-fortification (HF) could improve children's diet quality in these settings. The Ghana Health Service, supported by UNICEF, integrated the pilot Micronutrient Powder Initiative (MPI) into Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) services in four districts (Tain, Tolon, Talensi, and Ho West), whereby micronutrient powder (MNP) is supplied for HF for children aged 6-23 months attending CWCs.

Predictors of anaemia among adolescent schoolchildren of Ghana.

Anaemia is a public health problem in Ghana. We sought to identify factors associated with haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and anaemia among school-attending adolescents. We analysed data from 2948 adolescent girls and 609 boys (10-19 years) selected from 115 schools from regions of Ghana as a secondary analysis of baseline surveys conducted at two time-points.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation within a School-Based Integrated Nutrition and Health Promotion Program among Ghanaian Adolescent Girls.

Background: Anemia is a moderate public health problem among adolescent girls in Ghana.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the barriers to and facilitators of program fidelity to a school-based anemia reduction program with weekly iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation.

Methods: Authors analyzed directly observed weekly IFA consumption data collected longitudinally and cross-sectional data from a representative survey of 60 secondary schools and 1387 adolescent girls in the Northern and Volta regions of Ghana after 1 school year (2017-2018) of the intervention (30-36 wk).

"I couldn't buy the items so I didn't go to deliver at the health facility" Home delivery among rural women in northern Ghana: A mixed-method analysis.

Background: Maternal mortality remains a major challenge to health systems in low and middle-incoming countries. Some pregnant women develop potentially life-threatening complications during childbirth. Therefore, home delivery is a precursor for maternal mortality.

They receive antenatal care in health facilities, yet do not deliver there: predictors of health facility delivery by women in rural Ghana.

Background: Research has shown that use of antenatal services by pregnant women and delivery in health facilities with skilled birth attendants contribute to better delivery outcomes. However, a gap exists in Ghana between the use of antenatal care provided by health facilities and delivery in health facilities with skilled birth attendants by pregnant women. This study sought to identify the predictors of health facility delivery by women in a rural district in Ghana.