Alcohol consumption and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality-a linear and nonlinear Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Many observational studies support light-to-moderate alcohol intake as potentially protective against premature death. We used a genetic approach to evaluate the linear and nonlinear relationships between alcohol consumption and mortality from different underlying causes.

Methods: We used data from 278 093 white-British UK Biobank participants, aged 37-73 years at recruitment and with data on alcohol intake, genetic variants, and mortality.

Achieving reductions in the unmet need for contraception with postpartum family planning counselling in Ethiopia, 2019-2020: a national longitudinal study.

Background: An unmet need for contraception is associated with unintended pregnancy and adverse maternal and childhood outcomes. Family planning counselling is linked with reduced unmet need for contraception. However, evidence is lacking in Ethiopia on the impact of integrated family planning counselling on the unmet need for contraception.

Socio-demographic and economic inequity in the use of insecticide-treated bed nets during pregnancy: a survey-based case study of four sub-Saharan African countries with a high burden of malaria.

Despite global investments in malaria eradication and mitigation efforts, including the dissemination of ITNs to vulnerable communities, the goal of widespread malaria control among pregnant women has yet to be realized in many African countries. One of the explanations forwarded for this is related to the adoption and regular use of ITNs by pregnant women. Based on the available DHS and MIS data from four malaria high burden African countries- according to WHO malaria report 2020- inequality was measured by applying both relative and absolute summary measures for the four dimensions of inequality: economic status, education, place of residence and region.

Short interpregnancy interval and its predictors in Ethiopia: implications for policy and practice.

Introduction: interpregnancy interval (IPI) is the time elapsed between the birth of one live child and the conception of subsequent pregnancies. Several studies in Ethiopia indicated a high prevalence of a short interbirth interval - a proxy indicator of IPI. However, these studies were prone to selection bias as they did not include women who did not go on to have another pregnancy.

Association between frequency of mass media exposure and maternal health care service utilization among women in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for tailored health communication and education.

Introduction: Awareness creation through mass media has the potential to promoted positive behaviors and discourage negative health-related behaviors through direct and indirect pathways. In this study, we examined the association between exposure to mass media and maternal health care services utilization among women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We used data from the recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2010 and 2020.

Regional and socio-economic disparity in use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria among pregnant women in Kenya.

Background: Insecticide-treated net (ITN) use is among the most recommended strategies to prevent malaria in pregnancy. We analysed the regional and socio-economic patterns of ITN use among pregnant women in Kenya using data from the 2003, 2008 and 2014 Kenyan Demographic and Health Surveys (KDHSs).

Methods: Inequality was assessed using four dimensions: economic status, education, place of residence and region.