Can evidence drive health equity in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond?

Using scoping review methods, we systematically searched multiple online databases for publications in the first year of the pandemic that proposed pragmatic population or health system-level solutions to health inequities. We found 77 publications with proposed solutions to pandemic-related health inequities. Most were commentaries, letters, or editorials from the USA, offering untested solutions, and no robust evidence on effectiveness.

Modifiable socio-cultural beliefs and practices influencing early and adequate utilisation of antenatal care in rural Bangladesh: A qualitative study.

Objective: Our objective was to explore the socio-cultural factors that influence women's early and adequate utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in two rural settings of Bangladesh, including 32 in-depth interviews with pregnant or recently delivered women, husbands whose wives were pregnant or had a recent birth, mothers-in-law whose daughters-in-law were pregnant or had a recent birth; 2 focus group discussions with husbands; and 4 key-informant interviews with community health workers. We used thematic analysis to analyse the data.

A Feasibility Study Assessing Acceptability and Supply Issues of Distributing LPG Cookstoves and Gas Cylinders to Pregnant Women Living in Rural Bangladesh for Poriborton: The CHANge Trial.

Our aim was to develop a protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cooking compared to usual cooking on perinatal mortality in pregnant women in rural Bangladesh. We, therefore, aimed to assess the feasibility of the planned trial and the barriers/facilitators of distributing LPG to rural households. We conducted a feasibility study in rural Bangladesh using an iterative design.

Perceptions and practices related to birthweight in rural Bangladesh: Implications for neonatal health programs in low- and middle-income settings.

Background: Globally, low birthweight (LBW) infants (<2.5 kilograms) contribute up to 80% of neonatal mortality. In Bangladesh, approximately 62% of all births occur at home and therefore, weighing newborns immediately after birth is not feasible.

Factors associated with perinatal mortality in Nepal: evidence from Nepal demographic and health survey 2001-2016.

Background: Perinatal mortality is a devastating pregnancy outcome affecting millions of families in many low and middle-income countries including Nepal. This paper examined the more distant factors associated with perinatal mortality in Nepal.

Methods: A sample of 23,335 pregnancies > 28 weeks' gestation from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey datasets for the period (2001-2016) was analysed.

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with short and long birth intervals in Bangladesh: evidence from six Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys, 1996-2014.

Objective: To examine the effect of short (<36 months) and long (≥60 months) birth intervals on adverse pregnancy outcomes in Bangladesh.

Design, Setting And Participants: We analysed data from six Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (1996-1997, 1999-2000, 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014). We included all singleton non-first live births, most recently born to mothers within 5 years preceding each survey (n=21 382).

Variations in perinatal mortality associated with different polluting fuel types and kitchen location in Bangladesh.

This study examines the association between household air pollution from use of polluting cooking fuels and perinatal mortality in Bangladesh. We analysed the data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) 2004, 2007, 2011, and 2014. The two outcome variables were stillbirth and early neonatal mortality.

Socio-economic predictors of stillbirths in Nepal (2001-2011).

Introduction: Stillbirth has a long-lasting impact on parents and families. This study examined socio-economic predictors associated with stillbirth in Nepal for the year 2001, 2006 and 2011.

Methods: The Nepalese Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data for the period (2001-2011) were pooled to estimate socio-economic predictors associated with stillbirths in Nepal using binomial logistic regression while taking clustering and sampling weights into account.

Can mHealth improve access to safe blood for transfusion during obstetric emergency?

Purpose: Of the 99% maternal deaths that take place in developing countries, one-fourth is due to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). PPH accounts for one-third of all blood transfusions in Bangladesh where the transfusion process is lengthy as most facilities do not have in-house blood bank facilities. In this context, the location where blood is obtained and the processes of obtaining blood products are not standardized, leading to preventable delays in collecting blood, when it is needed.

Trends, determinants and inequities of 4 ANC utilisation in Bangladesh.

Background: The objectives of this study are to document the trend on utilisation of four or more (4) antenatal care (ANC) over the last 22 years period and to explore the determinants and inequity of 4 ANC utilisation as reported by the last two Bangladesh Demographic and Health surveys (BDHS) (2011 and 2014).

Methods: The data related to ANC have been extracted from the BDHS data set which is available online as an open source. STATA 13 software was used for organising and analysing the data.

Barriers to Timely and Safe Blood Transfusion for PPH Patients: Evidence from a Qualitative Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background And Objectives: In Bangladesh, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality accounting for 31% of all blood transfusions in the country. Although safe blood transfusion is one of the 8 signal functions of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC) strategy, most of the designated public sector CEmOC facilities do not have on-site blood storage system. Emergent blood is mainly available from external blood banks.