Characteristics of longitudinal maternal health studies in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic mapping of literature between 2012 and 2022.

Background: High maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa necessitate the need for aligned research focusing on prevalent causes and neglected conditions in the region.

Objective: This mapping review aimed to describe the characteristics of longitudinal maternal health studies between 2012 and 2022 in sub-Saharan Africa and identify gaps in priority conditions or geographical locations.

Search Strategy: We identified references through a Medline (PubMed) search covering September 2012 to June 2022.

Inflammation and epithelial repair predict mortality, hospital readmission, and growth recovery in complicated severe acute malnutrition.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most high-risk form of undernutrition, particularly when children require hospitalization for complications. Complicated SAM is a multisystem disease with high inpatient and postdischarge mortality, especially in children with comorbidities such as HIV; however, the underlying pathogenesis of complicated SAM is poorly understood. Targeted multiplex biomarker analysis in children hospitalized with SAM ( = 264) was conducted on plasma samples, and inflammatory markers were assessed on stool samples taken at recruitment, discharge, and 12 to 24 and 48 weeks after discharge from three hospitals in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Protocol of an individual participant data meta-analysis to quantify the impact of high ambient temperatures on maternal and child health in Africa (HEAT IPD).

Introduction: Globally, recognition is growing of the harmful impacts of high ambient temperatures (heat) on health in pregnant women and children. There remain, however, major evidence gaps on the extent to which heat increases the risks for adverse health outcomes, and how this varies between settings. Evidence gaps are especially large in Africa.

Risk factors for inpatient mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Background/objectives: Malnutrition underlies 45% of deaths in children under-5 years annually. Children hospitalised with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have unacceptably high mortality. We aimed to identify variables from early hospital admission (baseline factors) independently associated with inpatient mortality in this cohort to identify those most at risk.

Fat and lean mass predict time to hospital readmission or mortality in children treated for complicated severe acute malnutrition in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

HIV and severe wasting are associated with post-discharge mortality and hospital readmission among children with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM); however, the reasons remain unclear. We assessed body composition at hospital discharge, stratified by HIV and oedema status, in a cohort of children with complicated SAM in three hospitals in Zambia and Zimbabwe. We measured skinfold thicknesses and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to investigate whether fat and lean mass were independent predictors of time to death or readmission.

Recovery of children following hospitalisation for complicated severe acute malnutrition.

Nutritional recovery and hospital readmission following inpatient management of complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are poorly characterised. We aimed to ascertain patterns and factors associated with hospital readmission, nutritional recovery and morbidity, in children discharged from hospital following management of complicated SAM in Zambia and Zimbabwe over 52-weeks posthospitalization. Multivariable Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models, with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks, were used to identify factors associated with hospital readmission; negative binomial regression to assess time to hospitalisation and ordinal logistic regression to model factors associated with nutritional recovery.

Risk factors for postdischarge mortality following hospitalization for severe acute malnutrition in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Background: Children discharged from hospital following management of complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have a high risk of mortality, especially HIV-positive children. Few studies have examined mortality in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era.

Objectives: Our objectives were to ascertain 52-wk mortality in children discharged from hospital for management of complicated SAM, and to identify independent predictors of mortality.