Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Opportunities For Linking Research To Policy: Lessons Learned From Implementation Research In Sexual And Reproductive Health Within The Anser Network, Anser, Emilomo Ogbe, Dirk Van Braeckel, Marleen Temmerman, Elin C. Larsson, Ines Keygnaert, Wilson De Los Reyes Aragón, Feng Cheng, Gunta Lazdane

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: The uptake of findings from sexual and reproductive health and rights research into policy-making remains a complex and non-linear process. Different models of research utilisation and guidelines to maximise this in policy-making exist, however, challenges still remain for researchers to improve uptake of their research findings and for policy-makers to use research evidence in their work.

Methods: A participatory workshop with researchers was organised in November 2017 by the Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy (ANSER) to address this gap. ANSER is a consortium of experienced researchers, some of whom have policy-making experience, working on …

"Our Voices Matter": A Before-After Assessment Of The Effect Of A Community-Participatory Intervention To Promote Uptake Of Maternal And Child Health Services In Kwale, Kenya., Vernon Mochache, Eunice Irungu, Hajara El-Busaidy, Marleen Temmerman, Peter Gichangi

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Community-participatory approaches are important for effective maternal and child health interventions. A community-participatory intervention (the Dialogue Model) was implemented in Kwale County, Kenya to enhance uptake of select maternal and child health services among women of reproductive age.

Methods: Community volunteers were trained to facilitate Dialogue Model sessions in community units associated with intervention health facilities in Matuga, Kwale. Selection of intervention facilities was purposive based on those that had an active community unit in existence. For each facility, uptake of family planning, antenatal care and facility-based delivery as reported in the District Health Information System (DHIS)-2 was compared …

Prenatal Cervical Cancer Screening Using Visual Inspection With Acetic Acid In A Low Resource Setting, Vincent Nyaboga Oyiengo, Elkanah Omenge, Peter Muhandale Itsura, Philip Kipkirui Tonui, Benjamin Elly Odongo, Emmanuel Wekesa Wamalwa

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Purpose: Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women in low resource setting. The objective of this study was to assess the acceptability of prenatal cervical cancer screening using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in a low resource setting.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Over a period of 12 months, we enrolled 331 women who were attending antenatal care clinic with a gestation of age of less than 22 weeks. We screened them for cervical cancer by applying 5% acetic acid to the cervix (VIA Method). Visualization of …

Uptake Of Three Doses Of Hpv Vaccine By Primary School Girls In Eldoret, Kenya; A Prospective Cohort Study In A Malaria Endemic Setting, Hillary Mabeya, Sonia Menon, Steven Weyers, Violet Naanyu, Emily Mwaliko, Elijah Kirop, Elkanah Omenge, Heleen Vermandere, Davy Vanden Broeck

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: All women are potentially at risk of developing cervical cancer at some point in their life, yet it is avoidable cause of death among women in Sub- Saharan Africa with a world incidence of 530,000 every year. It is the 4th commonest cancer affecting women worldwide with over 260,000 deaths reported in 2012. Low resource settings account for over 75% of the global cervical cancer burden. Uptake of HPV vaccination is limited in the developing world. WHO recommended that 2 doses of HPV vaccine could be given to young girls, based on studies in developed countries. However in Africa …

Mapping Maternal Mortality Rate Via Spatial Zero-Inflated Models For Count Data: A Case Study Of Facility-Based Maternal Deaths From Mozambique, Osvaldo Loquiha, Niel Hens, Leonardo Chavane, Marleen Temmerman, Nafissa Osman, Christel Faes, Marc Aerts

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Maternal mortality remains very high in Mozambique, with estimates from 2015 showing a maternal mortality ratio of 489 deaths per 100,000 live births, even though the rates tend to decrease since 1990. Pregnancy related hemorrhage, gestational hypertension and diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS are amongst the leading causes of maternal death in Mozambique, and a significant number of these deaths occur within health facilities. Often, the analysis of data on maternal mortality involves the use of counts of maternal deaths as outcome variable. Previously we showed that a class of hierarchical zero-inflated models were very successful in dealing with …

Port Site Parasitic Leiomyoma After Laparoscopic Myomectomy: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Felix Oindi, Steve Mutiso, Timona Obura

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Uterine fibroids are the commonest benign gynecological tumors. Laparoscopic myomectomy is becoming increasingly popular as one of the surgical treatment options for symptomatic cases. Large tissues such as leiomyomas or even the uterus need to be morcellated in order to be retrieved from the abdominal cavity. Some of the morcellated fragments or small fibroids may be accidentally left in the abdominal cavity during the retrieval process. These may subsequently become implanted in the abdominal cavity, develop blood supply from the surrounding structures, and grow to form parasitic myomas with varied clinical presentation, depending on the location and size.

Case …

Levonorgestrel Only Emergency Contraceptive Use And Risk Of Ectopic Pregnancy In Eldoret Kenya: A Case-Control Study, Sahara Shurie, Edwin Were, Elkanah Omenge, Alfred Keter

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction: ectopic pregnancy is one of the causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Levonorgestrel (LNG) only emergency contraceptive pill is a well-established emergency contraceptive pill that is administered within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. This study aimed at determining whether or not there is a significant association between levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive use and the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy.

Methods: case-control (1:3) study among 79 women with ectopic pregnancy (cases) matched against 237 women without (controls) at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya; Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a questionnaire. Association between ectopic pregnancy …

The Effect Of Endometriosis On Live Birth Rate And Other Reproductive Outcomes In Art Cycles: A Cohort Study, Charles Muteshi, Eric O. Ohuma, Tim Child, Christian M. Becker

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Study question: What is the effect of endometriosis compared to unexplained subfertility on live birth rate in women undergoing IVF and embryo transfer (ET)?

Summary answer: Endometriosis decreases live birth rate in women undergoing IVF-ET treatment, particularly with increasing severity of the disease.

What is known already: Endometriosis affects up to 50% of women seeking fertility treatment and is known to reduce fecundity. There remains a debate as to effects of endometriosis on the outcomes of IVF treatment, with live birth being a secondary outcome or not reported in most studies.

Study design, size, duration: A retrospective cohort study analyzing …

Uterine Necrosis After Uterine Artery Embolization For Symptomatic Fibroids, Steve Mutiso, Felix Oindi, Nigel Hacking, Timona Obura

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a minimally invasive intervention that is used in the treatment of fibroids. UAE can lead to complications including postembolization syndrome, postprocedure pain, infection, endometrial atrophy leading to secondary amenorrhea, and uterine necrosis. Uterine necrosis afer UAE is very rare and hence poses a clinical dilemma for any clinician in its identifcation and management. We document a case of uterine necrosis afer UAE and conduct a literature review on its causation, clinical features, and management principles.

Case: A patient presented one month afer UAE with abdominal pain and abdominal vaginal discharge. Her work-up revealed features …

Intimate Partner Violence, Forced First Sex And Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes In A Sample Of Zimbabwean Women Accessing Maternal And Child Health Care, Simukai Shamu, Stephen Munjanja, Christina Zarowsky, Patience Shamu, Marleen Temmerman, Naeemah Abrahams

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a serious problem with a wide range of health consequences including poor maternal and newborn health outcomes. We assessed the relationship between IPV, forced first sex (FFS) and maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with 2042 women aged 15–49 years attending postnatal care at six clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2011. Women were interviewed on IPV while maternal and newborn health data were abstracted from clinic records. We conducted logistic regression models to assess the relationship between forced first sex (FFS), IPV (lifetime, in the last 12 months and …

Integration Of Maternal Postpartum Services In Maternal And Child Health Services In Kaya Health District (Burkina Faso): An Intervention Time Trend Analysis, Danielle Yugbaré Belemsaga, Anne Goujon, Halima Tougri, Abou Coulibaly, Olivier Degomme, Els Duysburgh, Marleen Temmerman, Seni Kouanda

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: The Missed Opportunities in Maternal and Infant Health (MOMI) project aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity within the year after childbirth in four sub-Saharan African countries. MOMI interventions including the integration of maternal and infant services in the postpartum (PP) period at day 6–10, week 6–8, and month 9 were implemented from September 2013 to December 2015. We hereby assess the effect of integrating maternal postpartum care (PPC) in infant immunization services in Kaya health district in Burkina Faso.

Methods: We apply a longitudinal mixed method on monthly monitoring data collected from 12 months before the …

Maternal Death And Delays In Accessing Emergency Obstetric Care In Mozambique, Leonardo Antonio Chavane, Patricia Bailey, Osvaldo Loquiha, Martinho Dgedge, Marc Aerts, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Despite declining trends maternal mortality remains an important public health issue in Mozambique. The delays to reach an appropriate health facility and receive care faced by woman with pregnancy related complications play an important role in the occurrence of these deaths. This study aims to examine the contribution of the delays in relation to the causes of maternal death in facilities in Mozambique.

Methods: Secondary analysis was performed on data from a national assessment on maternal and neonatal health that included in-depth maternal death reviews, using patient files and facility records with the most comprehensive information available. Statistical models …

Capacity Building In Sub-Saharan Africa: Models Of Care, Patrick J. Loehrer, Barry Rosen, Elkanah Omenge, Julie R. Gralow

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Z-Can: Prevention Of Unintended Pregnancy In An Emergency Setting, Marleen Temmerman, Cora Nally

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Prevention of unintended pregnancy is a primary strategy to reduce adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes related to Zika virus infection. Infection during pregnancy, either through a mosquito bite or sex with an infected partner, increases the risk of the child developing congenital microcephaly and other fetal brain abnormalities, resulting in the birth of a child with severe disabilities that will necessitate lifelong care.1,2

The Satisfactory Growth And Development At 2 Years Of Age Of The Intergrowth-21st Fetal Growth Standards Cohort Support Its Appropriateness For Constructing International Standards., José Villar, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Eleonora Staines Urias, Francesca Giuliani, Sikolia Wanyonyi

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that human growth should be monitored with the use of international standards. However, in obstetric practice, we continue to monitor fetal growth using numerous local charts or equations that are based on different populations for each body structure. Consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, the INTERGROWTH-21st Project has produced the first set of international standards to date pregnancies; to monitor fetal growth, estimated fetal weight, Doppler measures, and brain structures; to measure uterine growth, maternal nutrition, newborn infant size, and body composition; and to assess the postnatal growth of preterm babies. All these standards …

Provision Of Medical Supply Kits To Improve Quality Of Antenatal Care In Mozambique: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Trial, Ana Pilar Betrán, Eduardo Bergel, Sally Griffin, Armando Melo, My Huong Nguyen, Alicia Carbonell, Santos Mondlane, Mario Merialdi, Marleen Temmerman, A Metin Gülmezoglu

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: High levels of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity remain a daunting reality in many lowincome countries. Several interventions delivered during antenatal care have been shown to improve maternal and newborn outcomes, but stockouts of medical supplies at point of care can prevent implementation of these services. We aimed to evaluate whether a supply chain strategy based on the provision of kits could improve quality of care.

Methods: We did a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial at ten antenatal care clinics in Mozambique. Clinics were eligible if they were not already implementing the proposed antenatal care package; they served …

Prevalence Of Positive Depression Screen Among Post Miscarriage Women- A Cross Sectional Study, Steve Mutiso, Alfred Murage, Abraham Mukaindo

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Miscarriages are a common pregnancy complication affecting about 10–15% of pregnancies. Miscarriages may be associated with a myriad of psychiatric morbidity at various timelines after the event. Depression has been shown to affect about 10–20% of all women following a miscarriage. However, no data exists in the local setting informing on the prevalence of post-miscarriage depression. We set out to determine the prevalence of positive depression screen among women who have experienced a miscarriage at the Aga Khan University hospital, Nairobi.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional in design. Patients who had a miscarriage were recruited at the post-miscarriage clinic …

Female Sex Workers Experiences Of Using Contraceptive Methods: A Qualitative Study In Kenya, Rhoune Ochako, Jerry Okal, Steven Kimetu, Ian Askew, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are predisposed to a broad range of social, sexual and reproductive health problems such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV, unintended pregnancy, violence, sexual exploitation, stigma and discrimination. Female sex workers have unmet need for contraceptives and require comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) prevention interventions. Existing programs pay little attention to the broad sexual and reproductive health and rights of these women and often focus on HIV and other STIs prevention, care and treatment while neglecting their reproductive health needs, including access to family planning methods. The aim of this study is, therefore, to explore …