Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent Group B streptococcal infections in newborn infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing various strategies.

Background: Early-onset Group B Streptococcus (EOGBS) infection leads to substantial morbidity and mortality in newborn infants. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) prevents EOGBS infection, but IAP strategies vary. The approach to the provision of IAP can be risk-based, universal or a combination of the two strategies.

Predictors, prevalence and outcome of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Nigerian tertiary health facilities.

Objective: Determine prevalence, risk factors and outcomes of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP).

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of data captured in the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) between September 2019 and August 2020.

Setting: Fifty-four referral level facilities in Nigeria.

Maternal morbidity and death associated with pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of maternal morbidity and death from pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in referral-level hospitals in Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals.

Neonatal jaundice incidence, risk factors and outcomes in referral-level facilities in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of babies with neonatal jaundice in a network of referral-level hospitals in Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional analysis of perinatal data collected over a 1-year period.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals (48 public and 6 private) across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Burden and outcomes of postpartum haemorrhage in Nigerian referral-level hospitals.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), risk factors, and maternal and neonatal outcomes in a multicentre study across Nigeria.

Design: A secondary data analysis using a cross-sectional design.

Setting: Referral-level hospitals (48 public and six private facilities).

Determinants of obstructed labour and associated outcomes in referral hospitals in Nigeria.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of obstructed labour, associated risk factors and outcomes across a network of referral hospitals in Nigeria.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: A total of 54 referral-level hospitals across the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria.

Prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in Nigeria.

Objective: To examine the prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in referral-level facilities across Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity Programme in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria.

Setting: Records covering the period from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020.

Outcomes and quality of care for women and their babies after caesarean section in Nigeria.

Objective: To describe the outcomes and quality of care for women and their babies after caesarean section (CS) in Nigerian referral-level hospitals.

Design: Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals.

Incidence, predictors and immediate neonatal outcomes of birth asphyxia in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the incidence and sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with birth asphyxia and the immediate neonatal outcomes of birth asphyxia in Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity Programme.

Setting: Fifty-four consenting referral-level hospitals (48 public and six private) across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Nutritional Challenges among African Refugee and Internally Displaced Children: A Comprehensive Scoping Review.

Background: Children's nutrition in Africa, especially among those displaced by conflicts, is a critical global health concern. Adequate nutrition is pivotal for children's well-being and development, yet those affected by displacement confront distinctive challenges. This scoping review seeks to enhance our current knowledge, filling gaps in understanding nutritional and associated health risks within this vulnerable population.

Vulnerabilities and reparative strategies during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period: moving from rhetoric to action.

Maternal outcomes throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period are influenced by interlinked and interdependent vulnerabilities. A comprehensive understanding of how various threats and barriers affect maternal and perinatal health is critical to plan, evaluate and improve maternal health programmes. This paper builds on the introductory paper of the Series on the determinants of maternal health by assessing vulnerabilities during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.

Neglected medium-term and long-term consequences of labour and childbirth: a systematic analysis of the burden, recommended practices, and a way forward.

Over the past three decades, substantial progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality worldwide. However, the historical focus on mortality reduction has been accompanied by comparative neglect of labour and birth complications that can emerge or persist months or years postnatally. This paper addresses these overlooked conditions, arguing that their absence from the global health agenda and national action plans has led to the misconception that they are uncommon or unimportant.

National, regional, and global estimates of preterm birth in 2020, with trends from 2010: a systematic analysis.

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and is associated with long-term physical, neurodevelopmental, and socioeconomic effects. This study updated national preterm birth rates and trends, plus novel estimates by gestational age subgroups, to inform progress towards global health goals and targets, and aimed to update country, regional, and global estimates of preterm birth for 2020 in addition to trends between 2010 and 2020.

Methods: We systematically searched population-based, nationally representative data on preterm birth from Jan 1, 2010, to Dec 31, 2020 and study data (26 March-14 April, 2021) for countries and areas with no national-level data.

Antenatal corticosteroids in specific groups at risk of preterm birth: a systematic review.

Objective: This study aimed to synthesise available evidence on the efficacy of antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) therapy among women at risk of imminent preterm birth with pregestational/gestational diabetes, chorioamnionitis or fetal growth restriction (FGR), or planned caesarean section (CS) in the late preterm period.

Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Global Index Medicus was conducted for all comparative randomised or non-randomised interventional studies in the four subpopulations on 6 June 2021. Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomised Studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool were used to assess the risk of bias.

Effect of antenatal corticosteroid administration-to-birth interval on maternal and newborn outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are highly effective at improving outcomes for preterm newborns. Evidence suggests the benefits of ACS may vary with the time interval between administration-to-birth. However, the optimal ACS administration-to-birth interval is not yet known.

Tocolytic Therapy Inhibiting Preterm Birth in High-Risk Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review aimed to identify the benefits and possible harms of tocolytic therapy for preterm labour management in the context of pregnant women with extremely preterm birth, multiple gestations, or growth-restricted foetuses. A comprehensive search using MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and the WHO Global Index Medicus databases was conducted from 10 to 15 July 2021. We included randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies that assessed the effects of tocolysis compared with placebo or no treatment.

The forms and adverse effects of insecurities among internally displaced children in Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia has seen an increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to conflict and violence related to border-based disputes and climate change. This study examines the insecurities experienced by IDPs in the Burayu camp and how they navigate and challenge them. Violence and insecurity have daunted Ethiopian regions for decades, violated children's rights, and impeded the achievement of the United Nation's sustainable development goals related to children, such as good healthcare and mental health, quality education, clean water, and sanitation.

Quality and outcomes of maternal and perinatal care for 76,563 pregnancies reported in a nationwide network of Nigerian referral-level hospitals.

Background: The WHO in collaboration with the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health, established a nationwide electronic data platform across referral-level hospitals. We report the burden of maternal, foetal and neonatal complications and quality and outcomes of care during the first year.

Methods: Data were analysed from 76,563 women who were admitted for delivery or on account of complications within 42 days of delivery or termination of pregnancy from September 2019 to August 2020 across the 54 hospitals included in the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity programme.

Prevalence of abnormal umbilical arterial flow on Doppler ultrasound in low-risk and unselected pregnant women: a systematic review.

Background: While Doppler ultrasound screening is beneficial for women with high-risk pregnancies, there is insufficient evidence on its benefits and harms in low- and unselected-risk pregnancies. This may be related to fewer events of abnormal Doppler flow, however the prevalence of absent or reversed end diastolic flow (AEDF or REDF) in such women is unknown. In this systematic review, we aimed to synthesise available data on the prevalence of AEDF or REDF.

Evaluating Maternal Discharge Readiness in Kangaroo Mother Care.

Objective: To develop and apply a tool for measuring hospital discharge readiness of mothers practicing continuous kangaroo mother care (KMC) in a tertiary setting.

Methods: A 22-item questionnaire was adapted from an existing tool. After a pilot (n=20), the survey was administered to 200 mothers in the KMC unit, Kalafong Hospital, South Africa from 2017-2018.

The impact of implementing the 2016 WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience on perinatal deaths: an interrupted time-series analysis in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.

Objectives: To investigate if the implementation of the 2016 WHO Recommendations for a Positive Pregnancy Experience reduced perinatal mortality in a South African province. The recommendations were implemented which included increasing the number of contacts and also the content of the contacts.

Methods: Retrospective interrupted time-series analysis was conducted for all women accessing a minimum of one antenatal care contact from April 2014 to September 2019 in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.

The health of internally displaced children in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.

Background: Internally displaced children are those who have been forced to flee their homes due to severe unfavourable conditions (war, violence or disasters) but have not crossed international borders. Emerging research shows these children face multiple health challenges. However, we found no review focused solely on the health of such internally displaced children.

Applying the international classification of diseases to perinatal mortality data, South Africa.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of applying the International Classification of Diseases-perinatal mortality (ICD-PM) coding to an existing data set in the classification of perinatal deaths.

Methods: One author, a researcher with a non-clinical public health background, applied the ICD-PM coding system to South Africa's national perinatal mortality audit system, the Perinatal Problem Identification Program. The database for this study included all perinatal deaths ( = 26 810), defined as either stillbirths (of birth weight > 1000 g and after 28 weeks of gestation) or early neonatal deaths (age 0-7 days), that occurred between 1 October 2013 and 31 December 2016.