Collaboration in providing intimate-partner violence services to women with disabilities.

Background: There is a consensus among scholars, policymakers, and implementers that addressing the complex nature of intimate partner violence (IPV) requires a collaborative response. However, there is limited literature on how various professionals work collaboratively to address the needs of women with disabilities who experience IPV. This study combines the perspectives of women with disabilities and those of professionals to understand collaboration in providing IPV services to women with disabilities.

Starting then stopping: a nationwide register-based study on the magnitude, predictors, and urban-rural patterns of under-vaccination variation across health centers in The Gambia.

Objectives: Six million children were under-vaccinated in 2022. Our study aimed to 1) quantify the magnitude of under-vaccination variation between health facilities, 2) assess to which extent individual and health center level factors contributed to the variation, 3) identify individual and health facility factors associated with under-vaccination, and 4), explore rural vs. urban health facility variations.

The determinants of postpartum contraceptive use in Nigeria.

Introduction: Postpartum contraception is vital for maternal and child health, and reduces the risk of infant mortality. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a widely accepted framework for exploring health behaviors, such as contraceptive use. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the factors influencing postpartum contraceptive use in Nigeria and to contextualize the findings within the framework of the HBM.

Missed opportunities for vaccination at point of care and their impact on coverage and urban-rural coverage inequity in the Gambia.

Introduction: Identifying actionable targets is crucial to improve overall and equity in vaccination coverage, and in line with the global Immunization Agenda 2030. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the prevalence of missed opportunities for simultaneous vaccination (MOSVs) and their impact on vaccination coverage and urban-rural inequity in The Gambia.

Methods: We used data of children aged 12-23 months from The Gambia 2019/2020 demographic and health survey (weighted n = 1355) with seen vaccination cards.

Women with disabilities' experiences of intimate partner violence: a qualitative study from Sweden.

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a prevalent form of gender-based violence affecting one in three women globally. It is also a preventable cause of ill-health, disability, and death. Current research suggests that women with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing violence throughout their lifetime.

Is teenage parenthood associated with early use of disability pension? Evidence from a longitudinal study.

Background: Over the past decades the number of young people using disability pensions (DP) has gradually increased in Europe but the reasons for this change are poorly understood. We hypothesize that teenage parenthood could be associated with an increased risk of receiving early DP. The aim of this study was to examine the association between having a first child at age 13-19 and receiving DP at age 20-42 (here called early DP).

Socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in health care coverage in Mozambique: a repeated cross-sectional study of the 2015 and 2018 national surveys.

Background: Over the past years, Mozambique has implemented several initiatives to ensure equitable coverage to health care services. While there have been some achievements in health care coverage at the population level, the effects of these initiatives on social inequalities have not been analysed.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess changes in socioeconomic and geographical inequalities (education, wealth, region, place of residence) in health care coverage between 2015 and 2018 in Mozambique.

Impact of a performance monitoring intervention on the timeliness of Hepatitis B birth dose vaccination in the Gambia: a controlled interrupted time series analysis.

Introduction: The Hepatitis B virus that can cause liver cancer is highly prevalent in the Gambia, with one in ten babies at risk of infection from their mothers. Timely hepatitis B birth dose administration to protect babies is very low in The Gambia. Our study assessed whether 1) a timeliness monitoring intervention resulted in hepatitis B birth dose timeliness improvements overall, and 2) the intervention impacted differentially among health facilities with different pre-intervention performances.

Predictors of physical violence against children in Rwanda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: To address the challenges of limited national data on the prevalence and nature of violence experienced by children, Rwanda conducted, in 2015-2016, the first National Survey on Violence among female and male children and youth aged 13-24 years. To further contribute to these efforts to fill existing data gaps, we used the Rwanda survey data to assess the prevalence and predictors of physical violence (PV) in children aged 13-17.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 618 male and 492 female children were analysed.

Exploring the Perspectives of Professionals on Providing Intimate Partner Violence Services to Women With Disabilities.

This study explored the experiences and perceptions of professional service providers offering services to women with disabilities exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with service providers working in health care, social work, the police, women's shelters, and the Centre for Violence Against Women. Our findings suggest that providing adequate IPV services to women with disabilities requires coordination and collaboration.

Does a pay-for-performance health service model improve overall and rural-urban inequity in vaccination rates? A difference-in-differences analysis from the Gambia.

Objective: To assess whether the implementation of a results-based financing (RBF) project in The Gambia resulted in (1) improved national vaccination coverage (2) higher coverage in intervention than non-intervention areas, and (3) improvement in rural-urban coverage inequality.

Methods: The study used a difference-in-differences design, based on repeated cross-sectional data from The Gambian Demographic and Health Surveys 2013 (N = 1650) and 2020 (N = 1456). Full vaccination (receipt of one BCG, 3 OPV, 3 DTP, and 1 measles-containing vaccine doses) and rural-urban vaccination inequality were our outcome variables.

Framing Contraceptive Use Motivations Among Adolescents and Young Adults Living in Informal Settlements in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda.

The use of contraceptives among adolescents and young adults is one of the most cost-effective strategies to address many sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges, including unintended pregnancies, early marriages, and sexually transmitted infections. Despite a high burden of SRH challenges, uptake and unmet needs of modern contraceptives remain low in Uganda, especially among adolescents and young adults in informal settlement settings. This study aimed to explore the motivations of adolescents and young people to use modern contraceptives (or not).

Knowledge and Information Exposure About Family Planning Among Women of Reproductive Age in Informal Settlements of Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda.

A high unmet need for family planning (FP) prevails in sub-Saharan Africa. Knowledge, awareness creation, and ensuring accessibility are frequently used to increase FP uptake. However, evidence on knowledge or information dissemination about FP among marginalized populations in urban settings in Africa is limited.

The Persistence of High Levels of Living Alone Among Adults with Disabilities in Sweden, 1993-2011.

This study investigates how the probability to live alone has developed among working age individuals with and without disabilities in Sweden during the period 1993-2011 when extensive political reforms to improve the integration of disabled individuals in society were implemented. The results show that individuals with disabilities are approximately twice as likely to be living alone when compared to individuals without disabilities. People with disabilities were also more likely to report low life satisfaction, and this was especially true among individuals with disabilities living alone.

The relationship between disability and parental status: a register study of the 1968 to 1970 birth cohorts.

Background: Having children is a major life course event yet some disabilities could make it biologically challenging and some others could limit access to necessary socioeconomic resources. To date, there is relatively little data on disability and parental status and our study aimed to investigate this relationship.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was based on register data obtained from all people born in Sweden from 1968 to 1970 (n = 440220).

Family socio-economic status and childhood coeliac disease seem to be unrelated-A cross-sectional screening study.

Aim: The aim of our study was to examine whether there is a difference in coeliac disease prevalence in regard to parents' education level and occupation, and whether this differs between screened and clinically diagnosed children at the age of 12 years.

Methods: The study, Exploring the Iceberg of Celiacs in Sweden (ETICS), was a school-based screening study of 12-year-old children that was undertaken during the school years 2005/2006 and 2009/2010. Data on parental education and occupation were reported from parents of the children.

Adverse perinatal conditions and receiving a disability pension early in life.

Objective: The number of young adults on disability pension (DP) is increasing in European countries, creating a need to understand the related risk factors. This study aimed to determine whether adverse perinatal conditions are associated with receiving a DP early in life.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study consisted of all persons (N = 453,223) born in Sweden during 1973-1977, observed from 1991 through 2010 when they were aged between 16 and 37 years.

Preteen children's health related quality of life in Sweden: changes over time and disparities between different sociodemographic groups.

Background: Assessing disparities in health-related quality of Life (HRQoL) is important as a part of health-related disparities in the society. The aim of this study was to explore HRQoL among 12-year-olds in Sweden in terms of differences between years 2005 and 2009 and disparities related to sociodemographic background.

Methods: During the school years 2005 and 2009, a total of 18,325 sixth grade students in Sweden were invited to a celiac disease screening study; 13,279 agreed to participate.

Process evaluation of the SHARE intervention for preventing intimate partner violence and HIV infection in Rakai, Uganda.

The Safe Homes And Respect for Everyone (SHARE) intervention introduced an intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention approach into Rakai Health Sciences Program, an established HIV research and service organization in Uganda. A trial found exposure to SHARE was associated with reductions in IPV and HIV incidence. This mixed methods process evaluation was conducted between August 2007 and December 2009, with people living in SHARE intervention clusters, to assess awareness about/participation in SHARE, motivators and barriers to involvement, and perceptions of how SHARE contributed to behavior change.

Gender-based violence among people with disabilities is a neglected public health topic.

This paper aims to provide an analytical insight on the current state of knowledge on gender-based violence among people with disabilities, a topic where the level of data is relatively low. We briefly discuss the current research on: (a) the prevalence, risk factors and the theoretical approaches for gender-based violence among people with disabilities. (b) Service provision among people with disabilities who experience gender-based violence.

Effect of childhood coeliac disease on ninth grade school performance: evidence from a population-based study.

Background: Coeliac disease might affect school performance due to its effect on cognitive performance and related health consequences that might increase school absenteeism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether children with coeliac disease performed differently on completion of ninth grade in school compared with children without coeliac disease.

Methods: Analysis was performed on a population of 445 669 children born in Sweden between 1991 and 1994 of whom 1767 were diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Motorcycle injury among secondary school students in the Tiko municipality, Cameroon.

Introduction: Injury from motorcycle is a considerable cause of disability and death in the world and especially in low and middle-income countries; it is one of the most serious public health problems. In Cameroon, motorcycle is commonly used for transportation particularly among students. The aim of this paper is to study the risk-factors of the motorcycle-related accidents and injuries among secondary school students' in the Tiko municipality, Cameroon.

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Clients Accessing HIV Testing and Counseling Services: Pilot Testing Tools in Rakai, Uganda.

The World Health Organization recommends that HIV counseling and testing (HCT) programs implement strategies to address how intimate partner violence (IPV) influences women's ability to protect themselves from and seek care and treatment for HIV infection. We discuss the process used to adapt a screening and brief intervention (SBI) for female clients of HCT services in Rakai, Uganda-a setting with high prevalence of both HIV and IPV. By outlining our collaborative process for adapting and implementing the SBI in Rakai and training counselors for its use, we hope other HCT programs will consider replicating the approach in their settings.

Season and region of birth as risk factors for coeliac disease a key to the aetiology?

Background: Coeliac disease (CD) incidence has increased in recent decades, characterised by variations according to sex, age at diagnosis, year of birth, month of birth and region of birth. Genetic susceptibility and exposure to gluten are the necessary factors in CD aetiology, although several environmental factors are considered.

Methods: A nationwide prospective cohort longitudinal study was conducted consisting of 1 912 204 children aged 0-14.

Ethical Challenges of Randomized Violence Intervention Trials: Examining the SHARE intervention in Rakai, Uganda.

Objective: We identify complexities encountered, including unanticipated crossover between trial arms and inadequate 'standard of care' violence services, during a cluster randomized trial (CRT) of a community-level intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV prevention intervention in Uganda.

Methods: Concepts in public health ethics - beneficence, social value of research, fairness, standard of care, and researcher responsibilities for post-trial benefits - are used to critically reflect on lessons learned and guide discussion on practical and ethical challenges of violence intervention CRTs.

Results: Existing ethical guidelines provide incomplete guidance for responding to unexpected crossover in CRTs providing IPV services.