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.

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.

"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.