Development and validation of a tool to assess underlying factors of iron-rich food consumption among pregnant women.

Anaemia among pregnant women remains a public health concern globally. One major cause of this persistent problem is iron deficiency, which may be the result of limited iron intake in the diet. Using the extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (eTPB), this study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing psychosocial and environmental factors that could influence the consumption of iron-rich foods (IRFs) among Senegalese pregnant women.

Inequity in the face of success: understanding geographic and wealth-based equity in success of facility-based delivery for under-5 mortality reduction in six countries.

Background: Between 2000-2015, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) implemented evidence-based interventions (EBIs) known to reduce under-5 mortality (U5M). Even among LMICs successful in reducing U5M, this drop was unequal subnationally, with varying success in EBI implementation. Building on mixed methods multi-case studies of six LMICs (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, and Senegal) leading in U5M reduction, we describe geographic and wealth-based equity in facility-based delivery (FBD), a critical EBI to reduce neonatal mortality which requires a trusted and functional health system, and compare the implementation strategies and contextual factors which influenced success or challenges within and across the countries.

Evaluation of a youth-led participatory action research to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in Senegal.

Participatory approaches are increasingly popular in public health, but remain little used to address adolescent health issues. However, adolescent participation in research has enormous potential for identifying solutions to health issues that concern them. In Senegal, a youth-led participatory action research (YPAR) project was implemented in four communities where teams of adolescents were trained to conduct a research project and identify solutions to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) issues.

Adolescents' experiences with group antenatal care: Insights from a mixed-methods study in Senegal.

Objectives: Group antenatal care (G-ANC) is an innovative model in which antenatal care is delivered to a group of 8-12 women of similar gestational age. Evidence from high-income countries suggests G-ANC is particularly effective for women from marginalised populations, including adolescents. The objective of this study was to examine the experiences of Senegalese adolescents engaged in group antenatal care.

Drivers of stunting reduction in Senegal: a country case study.

Background: Senegal has been an exemplar country in the West African region, reducing child stunting prevalence by 17.9% from 1992 to 2017.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic in-depth assessment of factors at the national, community, household, and individual levels to determine the key enablers of Senegal's success in reducing stunting in children <5 y old between 1992/93 and 2017.

Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of group antenatal care in Senegalese health posts: a pilot implementation trial.

Almost all pregnant women in Senegal receive some antenatal care (ANC), yet only around half receive four or more visits and provision of education and counselling during ANC is often inadequate and, in some cases, non-existent. This results in missed opportunities to provide support and to counsel women regarding appropriate care-seeking practices and health behaviours during pregnancy and across the continuum of care. This pilot effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial explored whether group ANC (G-ANC), a model that integrates standard individual pregnancy care with facilitated participatory group education activities and peer support, could potentially address some of these challenges.

Assessing the Food Availability and Food Insecurity Situation among Communities of Matam Region, Senegal.

Matam is one of the poorest and most food-insecure regions of Senegal. o better understand the FA and food security (FS) situation in this region, in 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 103 households living in four villages. Through focus group discussions and direct observations, data on food available at HL and CL were collected as well as on food affordability and household FS.

Using a human resource management approach to support community health workers: experiences from five African countries.

Background: Like any other health worker, community health workers (CHWs) need to be supported to ensure that they are able to contribute effectively to health programmes. Management challenges, similar to those of managing any other health worker, relate to improving attraction, retention and performance.

Methods: Exploratory case studies of CHW programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda and Zimbabwe were conducted to provide an understanding of the practices for supporting and managing CHWs from a multi-actor perspective.