A qualitative assessment of barriers to iron and folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Botswana.

Background: Antenatal iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation remains an effective strategy in the prevention of maternal anemia and low birthweight and is universally recommended by WHO. However, uptake of IFA has varied globally due to challenges with acceptability, supply and distribution, counselling and knowledge, and access to health services. In Botswana, nearly one-third of pregnant women engaged in antenatal care do not receive IFA, despite it being standard of care.

When Black and White Turns Gray: Navigating the Ethical Challenges of Implementing Shared Infant Feeding Decisions for Persons Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States.

In 2023, US guidelines for feeding perinatally human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed infants were revised to encourage collaborative decision-making in lieu of categorical proscription of breastfeeding. This change advances autonomy and health equity for persons living with HIV in the United States, for the first time supporting those who prioritize the maternal and infant benefits of breastfeeding in the setting of effective, well-established HIV risk mitigation. The authors review key moral dilemmas facing clinicians and patients who must navigate the reversal of longstanding dogma against breastfeeding and provide recommendations for implementation of a new ethical paradigm.

Feasibility of Brain Ultrasound Performed by Nurses in the Evaluation of Newborns Who Are HIV Exposed in Utero and Uninfected: A Pilot Study in Botswana.

Background: Children who are exposed to HIV in utero but are uninfected (HIV-exposed uninfected or HEU) are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental delays compared to children born to persons without HIV. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have revealed differences in grey matter volumes, cerebral perfusion, and white matter changes in these children. However, MRI is costly and not widely available in areas with high HIV prevalence, like Botswana, where more than 15% of children are HEU.

The NUDGE Framework: Application to Address Behavioral Barriers to Antiretroviral Therapy in Adolescents Living With HIV in Eswatini.

Behavioral economics offers a unique opportunity to understand the social, cognitive, and psychological nuances that may influence health behavior. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the application of NUDGE, a novel behavioral economics and design thinking framework, to address barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence among adolescents living with HIV in eSwatini. NUDGE comprises five steps: (1) Narrow the focus to a specific target behavior, (2) Understand the context of the behavior through inquiry, (3) Discover behavioral insights related to the target behavior, (4) Generate intervention design features to address behavioral barriers to the target behavior, and (5) Evaluate the design features through iterative pilot testing.

Spanish translation of the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation.

Background: Most implementation science resources (e.g., taxonomies) are published in English.