Leveraging artificial intelligence for advancements in reproductive health.

We are writing to address the growing interest in the role of artificial intelligence (AI) within healthcare, particularly in the field of reproductive health. As technology continues to evolve, AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform how we diagnose, treat, and improve access to reproductive services, especially in underserved communities. AI-driven tools, supported by machine learning and big data analytics, are already demonstrating their potential in enhancing outcomes in reproductive health.

Assessing the impact of climate change on reproductive health: A content analysis of climate journalism coverage.

complications, infectious diseases, maternal and infant health in disasters, gender-based violence, healthcare access inequities, mental health impacts, and food security issues. Findings reveal an uneven distribution of coverage across continents, with potential language bias in English-dominated sources. Acknowledging limitations, future research directions emphasize a more inclusive approach, incorporating diverse linguistic perspectives and qualitative exploration of community experiences.

Causes of maternal deaths in Sierra Leone from 2016 to 2019: analysis of districts' maternal death surveillance and response data.

Introduction: Sierra Leone is among the top countries with the highest maternal mortality rates. Although progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality, challenges remain, including limited access to skilled care and regional disparities in accessing quality care. This paper presents the first comprehensive analysis of the burden of different causes of maternal deaths reported in the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system at the district level from 2016 to 2019.

CRADLE-5: a stepped-wedge type 2 hybrid implementation-effectiveness cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the real-world scale-up of the CRADLE Vital Signs Alert intervention into routine maternity care in Sierra Leone-study protocol.

Background: The CRADLE Vital Signs Alert intervention (an accurate easy-to-use device that measures blood pressure and pulse with inbuilt traffic-light early warning system, and focused training package) was associated with reduced rates of eclampsia and maternal death when trialled in urban areas in Sierra Leone. Subsequently, implementation was successfully piloted as evidenced by measures of fidelity, feasibility and adoption. The CRADLE-5 trial will examine whether national scale-up, including in the most rural areas, will reduce a composite outcome of maternal and fetal mortality and maternal morbidity and will evaluate how the CRADLE package can be embedded sustainably into routine clinical pathways.

Improvement in Infection Prevention and Control Compliance at the Three Tertiary Hospitals of Sierra Leone following an Operational Research Study.

Implementing infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) eight core components has been challenging in Sierra Leone. In 2021, a baseline study found that IPC compliance in three tertiary hospitals was sub-optimal. We aimed to measure the change in IPC compliance and describe recommended actions at these hospitals in 2023.

Neural tube defects as a cause of death among stillbirths, infants, and children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia: an analysis of the CHAMPS network.

Background: Neural tube defects are common birth defects resulting in severe morbidity and mortality; they can largely be prevented with periconceptional maternal intake of folic acid. Understanding the occurrence of neural tube defects and their contribution to mortality in settings where their burden is highest could inform prevention and health-care policy. We aimed to estimate the mortality attributed to neural tube defects in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia.

Availability of medical abortion medicines in eight countries: a descriptive analysis of key findings and opportunities.

Background: In recent years a growing number of manufacturers and medical abortion products have entered country markets and health systems, with varying degrees of quality and accessibility. An interplay of factors including pharmaceutical regulations, abortion laws, government policies and service delivery guidelines and provider's knowledge and practices influence the availability of medical abortion medicines. We assessed the availability of medical abortion in eight countries to increase understanding among policymakers of the need to improve availability and affordability of quality-assured medical abortion products at regional and national levels.

Scale-up of a novel vital signs alert device to improve maternity care in Sierra Leone: a mixed methods evaluation of adoption.

Background: The CRADLE (Community blood pressure monitoring in Rural Africa: Detection of underLying pre-Eclampsia) Vital Signs Alert device-designed specifically to improve maternity care in low resource settings-had varying impact when trialled in different countries. To better understand the contextual factors that may contribute to this variation, this study retrospectively evaluated the adoption of CRADLE, during scale-up in Sierra Leone.

Methods: This was a mixed methods study.

Advancing maternal and perinatal health in low- and middle-income countries: A multi-country review of policies and programmes.

The Sustainable Development Goals prioritize maternal mortality reduction, with a global average target of < 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Current pace of reduction is far short of what is needed to achieve the global target. It is estimated that globally there are 300,000 maternal deaths, 2.

Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Resistance of Isolated from Fresh Poultry Excreta Used for Vegetable Farming in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The transfer of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans is of concern in recent times. One potential source of such transfer is the untreated poultry excreta used as manure in farming. We aim to identify bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli in poultry excreta in Sierra Leone.

Antibiotic Use in Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Health Facilities in Sierra Leone in 2020-2021: Practice Does Not Follow Policy.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to increase the burden of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we report on the prevalence of antibiotic use and its associated factors among suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 35 health facilities in Sierra Leone from March 2020-March 2021. This was a cross-sectional study using routinely collected patient data.

in Nepali hospitals: poor outcomes amid 10 years of increasing antimicrobial resistance.

Objective: To determine antimicrobial resistance patterns and prevalence of multi- (MDR, i.e., resistant to ⩾3 classes of antimicrobial agents) and extensively (XDR, i.

High antibiotic resistance and mortality with species in a tertiary hospital, Nepal.

Setting: Nepal Mediciti Hospital, Bhainsepati, Lalitpur, Nepal.

Objectives: To determine antimicrobial resistance patterns, and the number and proportion of multidrug-resistant (MDR-) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-) cases among all patients with isolates between September 2018 and September 2019.

Design: This was a hospital laboratory-based, cross-sectional study.

Antimicrobial resistance in neonates with suspected sepsis.

Setting: Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal.

Objective: To determine the pattern of antimicrobial resistance and hospital exit outcomes in neonates with suspected sepsis in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Design: This hospital-based cohort study was conducted to follow patients from January to December 2019.

High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Two Referral Hospitals during the Post-Ebola Era in Free-Town, Sierra Leone: 2017-2019.

The Post-Ebola era (2017-2019) presented an opportunity for laboratory investments in Sierra Leone. US CDC supported the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to establish a microbiological unit for routine antimicrobial sensitivity testing in two referral (pediatric and maternity) hospitals in Freetown. This study describes resistance patterns among patients' laboratory samples from 2017 to 2019 using routine data.

The impact on key indicators of reproductive and child health after changes in program modalities in Sierra Leone, 2019.

Background And Aims: In 2018, the transition to routine vitamin A supplementation (VAS) was integrated with caregivers' preparation of nutritious complementary food from local produce and confidential counseling and provision of modern contraceptives. In 2019, funding for complementary food ceased and Community Health Workers (CHWs) were trained to track defaulters, while national efforts to improve Health Management Information Systems, supply chains and reduce teenage pregnancies were intensified. We report on key indicators after these changes and in comparison, to those previously published.

National Antimicrobial Consumption: Analysis of Central Warehouses Supplies to In-Patient Care Health Facilities from 2017 to 2019 in Uganda.

Antimicrobial consumption (AMC) surveillance at global and national levels is necessary to inform relevant interventions and policies. This study analyzed central warehouse antimicrobial supplies to health facilities providing inpatient care in Uganda. We collected data on antimicrobials supplied by National Medical Stores (NMS) and Joint Medical Stores (JMS) to 442 health facilities from 2017 to 2019.

Stroke in Sierra Leonean Africans:Perspectives from a Private Health Facility.

Background: Several stroke studies in West Africans have demonstrated a high proportion of haemorrhagic stroke and poor outcomes. This may be due to the socioeconomic status of patients and inadequate clinical care. Outcomes may well be different if more informed patients treated in better facilities are studied.

Prevalence of use of highly concentrated oxytocin or "pepper injection" in labor among clinicians undergoing emergency obstetric training in Sierra Leone.

Objective: To examine the awareness, prevalence of use, and knowledge of risks of pepper injection (PI), an injection of highly concentrated oxytocin used to augment or induce labor, among clinicians.

Methods: An anonymous pre- and post-workshop evaluation conducted among 227 clinicians participating in emergency obstetric and newborn care training in Sierra Leone from June to October 2018.

Results: Overall, 225 participants completed the surveys.

Investing in Operational Research Capacity Building for Front-Line Health Workers Strengthens Countries' Resilience to Tackling the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Introduction. The Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT IT) supports countries to build operational research capacity for improving public health. We assessed whether health workers trained through SORT IT were (1) contributing to the COVID-19 pandemic response and if so, (2) map where and how they were applying their SORT IT skills.

Using Deep Learning to Automate Goldmann Applanation Tonometry Readings.

Purpose: To develop an objective and automated method for measuring intraocular pressure using deep learning and fixed-force Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) techniques.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Participants: Patients from an academic glaucoma practice.

Introduction of Ebola virus into a remote border district of Sierra Leone, 2014: use of field epidemiology and RNA sequencing to describe chains of transmission.

In early October 2014, 7 months after the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began, a cluster of reported deaths in Koinadugu, a remote district of Sierra Leone, was the first evidence of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) in the district. Prior to this event, geographic isolation was thought to have prevented the introduction of Ebola to this area. We describe our initial investigation of this cluster of deaths and subsequent public health actions after Ebola was confirmed, and present challenges to our investigation and methods of overcoming them.