Religious leaders' nuanced views on birth spacing and contraceptives in Sierra Leone - qualitative insights.

Background: Sierra Leone is a religiously diverse country, with Christianity and Islam being the dominant faiths. This religious landscape plays a significant role in shaping attitudes towards family planning and contraceptives. We examined religious leaders' knowledge of family planning and modern contraceptive methods.

Adolescent girls' perceptions of the COVID-19 infodemic in Sierra Leone: a qualitative study in urban, peri-urban and rural Sierra Leone.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the primary sources of COVID-19 health information for adolescent girls in Sierra Leone and evaluate their perceived trustworthiness and influence on their behaviour.

Design: Using a convenience sampling strategy grounded in the social cognitive theory, the study explored adolescents' navigation and appraisal of health information sources, their understanding of COVID-19, and the impact of societal and observational influences on their health beliefs and actions. Data analysis involved thematic analysis using NVivo V.

Integrating reproductive and child health services enables access to modern contraception in Sierra Leone.

Background: From mid-2015, reproductive and child health interventions were integrated into a routine 6-month contact point: vitamin A supplementation, nutrition counseling with the mother's participation in the preparation of a complementary food, and confidential family planning counseling with provision of modern forms of contraceptives. By mid-2017, these services had reached 28% of health facilities nationwide.

Objective: To evaluate awareness and uptake of modern contraception and complementary feeding practices.

Changing patterns of health in communities impacted by a bioenergy project in northern Sierra Leone.

Large private sector investments in low- and middle-income countries are often critically evaluated with regards to their environmental, social, human rights, and health impacts. A health impact assessment, including a baseline health survey, was commissioned by the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone project in 2010. As part of the monitoring, a follow-up survey was conducted three years later.

Baseline health conditions in selected communities of northern Sierra Leone as revealed by the health impact assessment of a biofuel project.

Background: As biofuel projects may be associated with positive and negative effects on people's health and wellbeing, a health impact assessment was performed for the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone (ABSL) project. We present data from the baseline health survey, which will provide a point of departure for future monitoring and evaluation activities.

Methods: In December 2010, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in eight potentially affected communities.

Maintaining effective mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis through in-process monitoring in Sierra Leone.

Background: Since 2007 Sierra Leone has conducted mass drug administration (MDA) for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) implemented by unpaid community health volunteers (CHVs). Other health campaigns such as Mother and Child Health Weeks (MCHW) pay for services to be implemented at community level and these persons are then known as community health workers (CHWs). In 2010, the LF MDA in the 12 districts of the Southern, Northern and Eastern Provinces un-expectantly coincided with universal distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) during the MCHW.

Current status of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Beyla and Macenta Prefectures, Forest Guinea.

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in children aged 9-14 years in Beyla and Macenta Prefectures, Forest Guinea. Stool samples were examined by Kato-Katz and urine samples were examined by the centrifugation method. The overall prevalence and intensity of infection was 66.