Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Breastfeeding Support Practices in Hospitals and Birthing Facilities in the U.S.

Objective: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation is known to increase breastfeeding rates in the U.S. However, less is known about barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding support practices in BFHI hospitals, and how they differ from non-BFHI hospitals.

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Anglophone and Francophone West African Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence.

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) are highly effective forms of preventive medicine in many low- and middle-income countries, including Anglophone and Francophone West African countries. Despite the proven benefits of EIBF and EBF in reducing mortality and morbidity, there is limited systematic evidence from West African countries. Hence, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of EIBF and EBF in Anglophone and Francophone West African countries.

HIV interventions across the care continuum for adolescents in high-burden countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Adolescents (10-19 years old) have poor outcomes across the prevention-to-treatment HIV care continuum, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions that documented HIV outcomes among adolescents in HIV high-burden countries.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 2015 and September 2024, assessing at least one HIV outcome along the prevention-to-care cascade, including PrEP uptake, HIV testing, awareness of HIV infections, ARV adherence, retention, and virological suppression.

The Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity (SCMHE): a multisector multifaceted community-based approach to reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality in the Gulf South.

Introduction: The maternal mortality crisis in the United States disproportionately affects women who are Black, especially those living in the Gulf South. These disparities result from a confluence of healthcare, policy, and social factors that systematically place Black women at greater risk of maternal morbidities and mortality. This study protocol describes the Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity (SCMHE), a research center funded by the National Institutes of Health in 2023 to reduce preventable causes of maternal morbidity and mortality while improving health equity.

The role of zinc in the premature brain: functions, outcomes and future research perspectives.

Zinc (Zn) is one of the most prevalent and essential micronutrients, found in 10% of all human proteins and involved in numerous cellular enzymatic pathways. Zn is important in the neonatal brain, due to its involvement in neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and neural signaling. It acts as a neuronal modulator and is highly concentrated in certain brain regions, such as the hippocampus, and the retina.

Prevalence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid and factors associated with emergency cesarean section: multicenter cross-sectional study in south central Ethiopia.

Background: Meconium is thick black-green fetal intestinal content starting from the early first trimester of gestation. Unfortunately, if it is released into the amniotic cavity due to any cause, it can be associated with neonatal mortality and morbidity.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid among mothers undergoing emergency cesarean section in specialized hospitals cross-sectional study in south central Ethiopia from August 1, 2022, to 30, October 2022.

Nutrient Intake Among Lactating Women With Overweight and Obesity in Norway: A Comparison With the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

Background: During lactation, maternal requirements for many nutrients increase due to the physiological demands of breast milk production, reflected in dietary recommendations. BMI is negatively associated with dietary quality postpartum, and 40% of women in Norway have pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity. Currently, there is limited data on dietary intake among lactating women in Norway and whether they meet nutritional requirements.

Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis From Community-Based Representative Evidence Between 2011 to 2023.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence varies widely across different regions of India. We aimed to identify the status of CKD in India, by systematically reviewing the published community-based studies between the period of January 2011 to December 2023. PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched for peer-reviewed evidence.

Novel Variants of IGF2 Gene Are Linked With Neural Tube Defects-An In Silico to Clinical Approach in West Bengal, India.

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are defined as an incomplete closure of the neural tube (NT), with a prevalence of 1.2 per 1000 live births around the world. Methylation of the maternally imprinted gene Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is one of the epigenetic mechanisms that contribute significantly to the development of NTDs.

Buprenorphine and postpartum contraception utilization among people with opioid use disorder: a multi-state analysis.

Background: The postpartum period provides an opportunity for birthing people with opioid use disorder (OUD) to consider their future reproductive health goals. However, the relationship between the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and contraception utilization is not well understood. We used multistate administrative claims data to compare contraception utilization rates among postpartum people with OUD initiating buprenorphine (BUP) versus no medication (psychosocial services receipt without MOUD (PSY)) in the United States (US).

Implementation research logic model in the design and execution of eHealth innovations for maternal and newborn healthcare in Ethiopia.

Background: The use of eHealth innovations is becoming increasingly important in improving health outcomes, especially for maternal and newborn health. However, planning and executing these innovations can be challenging due to their complex nature. To provide guidance and clarity on implementation approaches, researchers need to use implementation research (IR) tools.

Stakeholder perspectives on facilitators and barriers to implementing a zero-dollar copay program for chronic conditions study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remains a pressing public health concern. Despite advancements in antidiabetic medications, suboptimal medication adherence persists among many individuals with T2D, often due to the high cost of medications. To combat this issue, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Blue Cross) introduced the $0 Drug Copay (ZDC) program, providing $0 copays for select drugs.

Community-based newborn care utilization and associated factors in Nekemte City, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023.

Background: Community-Based Newborn Care [CBNC] program aims to improve the health of the newborns. Despite management improvements, many young infants with serious bacterial infections [PSBI] in resource-limited settings are not receiving recommended inpatient treatment due to accessibility, affordability, or family acceptance issues. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of CBNC utilization and associated factors among women who delivered recently their newborns in Nekemte city, West Oromia, Ethiopia.

Placental Proteomics Reveals an Elevated Level of Aldo-Keto Reductase 1-B1, Highlighting Its Potential Role in Spontaneous Preterm Birth.

Preterm birth (PTB) refers to the delivery of a baby before the completion of 37 weeks of gestation. It is a significant global health issue with implications for both mothers and neonates. The placenta is a transient organ crucial in the sustenance of pregnancy until parturition; its dysfunction is associated with different adverse pregnancy outcomes, including PTB.

Relationship between vaginal and gut microbiome and pregnancy outcomes in eastern Ethiopia: a protocol for a longitudinal maternal-infant cohort study (the EthiOMICS study).

Introduction: Although evidence exists on the impact of microbiota on pregnancy outcomes in many high-resource settings, there is a lack of research in many low-resource settings like Ethiopia. This study aims to fill this gap by studying the gut and vaginal microbiota changes throughout pregnancy and assess how these changes relate to pregnancy outcomes among a cohort of pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods And Analysis: Vaginal and stool samples will be collected using DNA/RNA Shield Collection kits three times starting at 12-22 weeks, 28-36 weeks and at birth (within 7 days).

Mixed-methods reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of IDPs, returnees and host communities in Jonglei State, South Sudan.

Objectives: To understand the current state of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) among internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities in remote counties of Jonglei state.

Design: Cross-sectional, randomly sampled, mixed-methods, population-based household study.

Setting: Ayod, Nyirol, Fangak and Pigi counties of Jonglei, South Sudan.

Changes in traffic-related air pollution exposures and associations with adverse birth outcomes over 20 years in Texas.

Background: Billions of dollars have been spent implementing regulations to reduce traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) from exhaust pipe emissions. However, few health studies have evaluated the change in TRAP emissions and associations with infant health outcomes. We hypothesize that the magnitude of association between vehicle exposure measures and adverse birth outcomes has decreased over time, parallelling regulatory improvements in exhaust pipe emissions.

Prospective associations of adolescent obesity phenotypes with self-reported polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis in young adulthood.

Study Question: Are empirically derived adolescent overweight/obesity phenotypes differentially associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in young adulthood?

Summary Answer: Self-reported PCOS diagnosis risk in young adulthood varied by empirically derived adolescent overweight/obesity phenotypes, with the highest risk observed among those in the 'mothers with obesity' and 'early puberty' phenotypes.

What Is Known Already: Overweight and obesity during puberty are postulated to promote the development of PCOS. Much of the prior literature in this area is cross-sectional and defines weight status based solely on BMI, yet emerging research suggests that not all people with overweight/obesity have the same risk for chronic health conditions, including PCOS.

Effectiveness of targeted social and behavior change communication on maternal health knowledge, attitudes, and institutional childbirth: a cluster-randomized trial in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Maternal mortality remains a critical global health challenge, with 95% of deaths occurring in low-income countries. While progress was made from 2000 to 2015, regions such as Ethiopia continue to experience high maternal mortality rates, impeding the achievement of the sustainable development goal to reduce maternal deaths to 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) intervention to improve maternal health behaviors.

Are the 2009 Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain recommendations applicable in a contemporary South-East Asian pregnancy cohort? Results of a prospective analysis.

Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) modulates pregnancy outcomes and long-term offspring metabolic health. The 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) GWG recommendations have largely been validated in Caucasian and mono-ethnic East Asian cohorts. Asians are at higher metabolic risk at a lower body mass index (BMI), and this has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify lower BMI cut-offs for risk evaluation amongst Asians.

Revising the definition of "demand satisfied for modern methods of family planning:" A cross-sectional study to explore incorporating person-centered constructs of demand, choice, and satisfaction.

Several challenges to validity have been identified with standard approaches used to measure "demand satisfied for modern methods of family planning." This study explored construct validity of the widely used indicator for "demand satisfied" by comparing the standard definition to alternative definitions of the indicator highlighting dimensions of women's own perceived demand, choice, and satisfaction. This cross-sectional study of women aged 15-49 years was conducted in Argentina (n = 1492), Ghana (n = 1600), and India (n = 1702) using a two-staged random sampling design.

The Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition Among Infants and Children Aged 6 Months to 5 Years in Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Objective: To explore the prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among infants and children aged 6 months to 5 years in sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Despite substantial progress over the past 20 years, undernutrition has remained an alarming global challenge. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the prevalence of stunting in children younger than 5 years has significantly increased.

Promoting Equitable Engagement in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Care.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a treatable pediatric condition, but children with racial-ethnic minority backgrounds often do not receive timely or consistent treatment. Understanding how systemic racism impacts care and learning from families of color about their experiences can provide critical insights for improving clinical practice and engaging patients equitably in ADHD care. We interweave a mother's experience navigating ADHD care for her son with commentary from an interprofessional team about what clinicians can do for families to reduce the impact of systemic racism on care.

Umbilical vein remodeling is associated with pregestational maternal overweight.

Introduction: Excess weight during pregnancy is a condition that can affect both mother and fetus, through the maternal-fetal interface, which is constituted by the placenta and umbilical cord. The umbilical vein is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, and its proper functioning depends on the integrity of its structure. The remodeling of the umbilical vein represents one of the causes of inadequate transport of nutrients to the fetus, being potentially harmful.

Practice, Experiences, and Facilitators of Simulation-Based Training During One Year of Implementation in 30 Hospitals in Tanzania.

Introduction: Enhancing the proficiency of healthcare workers (HCWs) in handling birth-related complications is crucial for reducing maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. To achieve this, the Safer Births Bundle of Care offers a comprehensive set of innovative, simulation-based training interventions designed to strengthen the skills and competencies of HCWs working as skilled birth attendants.

Objective: To describe the use of low-dose, high-frequency simulation-based training, and the experiences of this usage among HCWs and stakeholders at facilities in Tanzania.