Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Incidence And Risk Factors For Stillbirth In Kenya, Mozambique And The Gambia: The Precise Cohort Study, Grace Mwashigadi, Joseph Akuze, Angela Koech, Hawanatu Jah, Anna Roca, Geoffrey Omuse, Moses Mukhanya, Marleen Temmerman, Amina Abubakar, Patricia Okiro

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background

Methods

Terminal Digit Preference And Threshold Avoidance In Digital Blood Pressure Measurements During Pregnancy: Secondary Analysis Of Data From The Clip And Precise Cohorts, Peter Dadelszen, Akshdeep Sandhu, Jeffrey Bone, Rahat Qureshi, Olukayode Dada, Ashalata Mallapur, Marleen Temmerman, Marie-Laure Volvert, Joseph Waiswa, Moses Mukhanya, Angela Koech

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background:Screening for, detecting, and managing pregnancy hypertension is a core function of antenatal care. To reduce both training requirements and the risks of measurement error in blood pressure (BP) values, automated and semiautomated BP devices have been validated in pregnant women with normal BP and pregnant women with hypertension and introduced for serial antenatal measurement of BP.

Objectives:The study aimed to (1) determine whether or not repeated BP measurements reduced the presence of terminal digit preference and (2) discern whether or not there was evidence of threshold avoidance in the Community-Level Interventions for Preeclampsia (CLIP) trials compared with …

Cancer Workforce-A Global Crisis: A Lancet Oncology Commission, Hedvig Hricak, Zachary Ward, Fabio Moraes, Andrew Scott, Farouk Dako, Wilfred Ngwa, Cynthia Villarreal-Garza, May Abdel-Wahab, Stephen Avery, Miriam Mutebi

General Surgery, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Poor Compliance With Private Nursing And Midwifery Practice Guidelines In Urban Settings In Uganda, Dan Muramuzi, Edson Atwine, Barbara Okiror, Mercy Muwema, Christine Nimwesiga, Laban Muteebwa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Optimal compliance with private practice guidelines is one of the core components of quality improvement in nursing and midwifery professions. Private nursing and midwifery practice guidelines in Uganda were introduced in 2019. However, little has been documented about compliance with these guidelines, despite playing a crucial role in ensuring safe nursing and midwifery practice and maintenance of professional standards.  We assessed the compliance with private nursing and midwifery practice guidelines of Uganda (2019) and explored barriers to optimal compliance with these guidelines in private health facilities licensed by the Uganda Nursing and Midwifery Council (UNMC) in Kampala Metropolitan …

Assessing Impact Of Heat Waves On Pregnancy And Lactation Amidst Climate Change: A Scoping Review., Susan Anyango, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: The escalation of heat waves, attributed to climate change, represents a global public health concern, with pregnant
and lactating women identified as particularly vulnerable due to Physiological and hormonal changes.

Aim: To review the existing research on the effects of heat waves on pregnancy and lactation, identifying potential health risks and outcomes.

Methods: A structured search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted using terms related
to heat waves, pregnancy, lactation, and climate change. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed empirical
studies in English.

Results: Heat waves are linked to increased risks of preterm labor, low …

Descriptive Qualitative Study Of Nursing Students' Perceptions And Behaviors During Student-Led Class Sessions In Uganda, Proscovia Nakaye, Veronica Nakkonde, Mercy Muwema, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Student-led class sessions are a pedagogical approach where students actively engage in the learning process, influencing content, activities, and pace. This method fosters independent learning, communication skills, and teamwork. While some studies have shown the effectiveness of student-led sessions, nursing students often exhibit challenges, such as inattention and negative attitudes, affecting the quality of learning and patient care. Understanding nursing students' perceptions and behaviors in this context is essential for improving nursing education.

Methods: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore nursing students' perceptions and behaviors during student-led class sessions at Uganda Christian University. Sixteen direct-entry nursing students …

Prevalence Of Teenage Pregnancy And Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls In Bobi Subcounty, Northern Uganda., Grace Auma, Margaret Alioru, Geoffrey Kaujju, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Methodology: A Cross-sectional study design. A survey was conducted among 4893 married girls aged 15-19 years using quantitative methods. Quantitative data was collected through the structured questionnaire, which was administered, data was collected and entered in EPI-INFO 2020 software, and was cleaned and analyzed using STATA version 15.0. Binary logistic regression was done to examine the factors independently associated with teenage pregnancy. A multistage sampling technique was used.

Results: Our study showed that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Bobi Sub-County, Omoro District, is high at 27.5%. Significant Factors contributing to the likelihood of teenage pregnancy included those …

Misconduct Among Nurses And Midwives: A Retrospective Descriptive Study Of Cases Handled At The Uganda Nurses And Midwives Council From 2017 To 2021, Barbara Okiror, Christine Nimwesiga, Patience Muwanguzi, Tom Ngabirano, Mercy Muwema

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Media reports on the misconduct of nurses and midwives, including cases of fake credentials, drug theft, and incompetence, are on the rise. However, there are no published studies currently addressing this issue in Uganda. Therefore, to inform effective regulation of the profession, we analysed the misconduct cases involving nurses and midwives reported to the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council between 2017 and 2021.

Methods: The study retrospectively described misconduct cases received and handled at UNMC from 2017 to 2021 and their outcomes. Following total population sampling, data were extracted from case files and then input into a …

Structures And Processes Of Critical Care Nursing Practice: Insights From Four Ugandan Intensive Care Units, Dominic Ogwal Savio, Edrisa Ssemwanga, Winter Patrick, Lameck Ssemogerere, Cliff Aliga

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Household Air Pollution Is Associated With Disease Severity In Ugandan Children Hospitalized With Hypoxemic Pneumonia, Ayla Ahmed, Sehaj Sandhu, Sophie Namasopo, Juliet Nabwire, Qaasim Mian, Andrea Conroy, Jackson Amone, Charles Olaro, Robert Opoka, Michael Hawkes

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background Household air pollution (HAP) due to biomass fuel use is a risk factor for childhood pneumonia, a leading cause of under-five mortality globally. This study examined the relationship between HAP and disease severity in Ugandan children hospitalized with hypoxemic pneumonia.

Methods We conducted a retrospective case-control study across 20 Ugandan hospitals. PM2.5 exposure was estimated using caregiver-reported fuel use, cooking duration, kitchen structure, and ventilation. Pneumonia severity was assessed clinically, and associations were analyzed using non-parametric tests.

Results We included 735 children (median age 9 months, 42% female) hospitalized with hypoxemic pneumonia. Most households used firewood (84%) or charcoal …

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Velocity Measurements In Children With Sickle Cell Disease In Kenya, Catherine Mwalimu, Oscar Odhiambo, Elaine Mashisia, Teresa Mwanja, Allan Ade, Maria De Vita, Katherine Oyieke, Pauline Samia, Fenella Kirkham, Samson Gwer

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited haemoglobinopathy and poses a high public health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Children with sickle cell anaemia are at a highrisk of ischemic stroke, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography helps identify those at highest risk for primary stroke prevention.

Objective To determine the prevalence of abnormal cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in children with SCD and describe CBFV in children without SCD.

Methods We conducted a two-component study comprising a retrospective review and a cross-sectional assessment. TCD measurements from 143 children with confirmed SCD aged 2–16 years were reviewed. In a …

Impact Of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring On 30-Day Mortality In Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study In Kenya, George Ongas, Idris Chikophe, Jacqueline Mavuti, David Olunya, Mubashir Qureshi, Beverly Cheserem, Edwin Mogere

General Surgery, East Africa

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate 15-year trends in epidemiology, baseline severity, management, and outcomes of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) at a Kenyan tertiary center, and to determine the impact of invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring on 30-day mortality in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) context.

METHODS A retrospective quasi-experimental cohort analysis of consecutive sTBI admissions (postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score ≤ 8, age ≥ 13 years) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2024, was conducted. This time period was divided into two eras: era 1 (2010–2014), premonitoring, and era 2 (2015–2024), routine …

Cost Of Health Systems Strengthening For Small And Sick Newborn Care In Four Sub-Saharan African Countries Implemented With Nest360: Incremental Cost Analyses, Alice Tarus, Meghan Kumar, Rebecca Penzias, Rosemary Kamuyu, James Cross, Mbozu Sipalo, Edith Gicheha, Christine Bohne, George Okello, William Macharia

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background

Methods

Fetal Vascular Malperfusion And Other Placental Lesions In Relation To Maternal Sars-Cov-2 Exposure: A Case–Control Study, Irene Mwandoto, Marleen Temmerman, Ingrid Gichere, Patricia Okiro

Pathology, East Africa

Background:

The morphologic characteristics of placentas associated with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been described but with varying findings. Studies conducted at the onset of the pandemic reported frequency of Fetal Vascular Malperfusion (FVM), an umbrella term that describes occlusive vasculopathies that affect fetal circulation and their associated sequelae. Morphologic manifestations include thrombosis, avascular villi and vascular stromal karyorrhexis. Associated outcomes include fetal growth restriction, thromboembolic events such as neonatal stroke and fetal demise. Placental lesions associated with a severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection present a unique picture in histology, especially in the attempt to decipher the …

Breastfeeding Support For Mothers Of Low Birthweight Infants In Hospitals In Rural Western Kenya: An Exploratory Study, Fiona Dickinson, Florence Were, Alloys K’Oloo, Iwaret Otiti, Linda Tindi, Mwanamvua Boga, Mary Kimani, Laura Kiige, Kathy Mellor, Helen Nabwera

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background One in ten newborns in sub-Saharan Africa weigh < 2500 g (i.e. low birthweight [LBW]). Breastfeeding difficulties from birth are common among LBW infants. This study explored the use of trained peer mothers to deliver breastfeeding support to mothers of LBW infants in healthcare facilities in rural Kenya.

Methods Five trained peer mothers provided breastfeeding support to 23 mothers of LBW infants across eight healthcare facilities in Homa Bay County. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 mothers, 10 healthcare providers and 5 peer mothers prior to and during the breastfeeding support intervention. Inductive thematic analysis was used.

Results Three key themes were discovered: mothers valued the confidence the peer mothers gave them to breastfeed their LBW infants, peer mothers found that the training and their previous experience caring for LBW infants enabled them to work collaboratively with mothers …

Global Perspectives On Central Nervous System Drug Innovation: Achievements, Barriers, And Priorities For The Next Decade, Hiroyuki Uchida, Gabriella Gobbi, Joseph Zohar, Allan Young, Dan Rujescu, Ming-Chyi Huang, Suresh Sundram, Lukoye Atwoli, Jana Vukovic, Kazutaka Ikeda

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Over the past decade, neuropsychopharmacology has shifted from stagnation to momentum, with first-in-class mechanisms and biomarker-enabled trials spanning psychiatry and neurology.

Methods We narratively synthesized advances from 2013 to 2026 across central nervous system (CNS) discovery and development, including pivotal trials, regulatory actions, digital/real-world evidence, genetics, artificial intelligence (AI), and implementation/global-access themes that are endorsed by international societies.

Results Therapeutic gains include rapid-acting drugs for treatment-resistant depression (intranasal esketamine); psychedelic-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression; neuroactive steroid γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptor positive allosteric modulators (brexanolone, zuranolone) for postpartum depression; non-dopaminergic muscarinic agonists (xanomeline–trospium) for schizophrenia; orexin receptor antagonists …

Global Perspectives On Cns Drug Innovation: Achievements, Barriers, And Priorities For The Next Decade, Hiroyuk Uchida, Gabriella Gobbi, Joseph Zohar, Allan Young, Dan Rujescu, Ming-Chyi Huang, Suresh Sundram, Lukoye Atwoli, Jana Vukovic, Kazutaka Ikeda

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Over the past decade, neuropsychopharmacology has shifted from stagnation to momentum, with first-in-class mechanisms and biomarker-enabled trials spanning psychiatry and neurology.

Methods We narratively synthesized advances from 2013 to 2026 across central nervous system (CNS) discovery and development, including pivotal trials, regulatory actions, digital/real-world evidence, genetics, artificial intelligence (AI), and implementation/global-access themes that are endorsed by international societies.

Results Therapeutic gains include rapid-acting drugs for treatment-resistant depression (intranasal esketamine); psychedelic-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression; neuroactive steroid γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptor positive allosteric modulators (brexanolone, zuranolone) for postpartum depression; non-dopaminergic muscarinic agonists (xanomeline–trospium) for schizophrenia; orexin receptor antagonists …

Ethnic And Sex Differences In Salt Sensitivity Amongst Normotensive Young Adult Nigerians: Implications For Hypertension Prevention, Ahmed Oloyo, Abdullahi Adejare, Oluwakemi Odukoya, Simiat Elias, Oyewole Kushimo, Olusoga Sofola

Biomedical Sciences, East Africa

Background: High dietary salt intake is a well-established modifiable risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Salt sensitivity – a blood pressure (BP) phenotype defined by exaggerated BP response to salt loading, remains underrecognised in normotensive populations despite its strong link to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The burden and determinants of salt sensitivity amongst young Nigerians remain poorly understood.

Aims: This study aimed to identify demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with salt sensitivity, explore potential ethnic and sex-related differences, and determine the independent predictors of salt-sensitive (SS) BP response amongst normotensive young adult Nigerians.

Subjects and Methods: An …

Participant Recruitment, Baseline Characteristics And Burden Of Cardiometabolic Risk Markers Among Adults With Prediabetes In Kenya: Insights From The Fermented Foods And Prediabetes Study, Rosebella Iseme, Alex Muia, Jacob Shabani, Samuel Mucheru, Catherine Gathu, Eliphas Gitonga, Redempta Mutisya, Peter Kioko, Jalal Safipour, Cornelia Witthöft

Population Health, East Africa

Aims

Methods

Results …

Prevalence And Determinants Of Fully Vaccinated Status For Covid-19 Among Pregnant Women In Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, And Pakistan, Vaishnavi Mathur, Jessica Schue, Berhaun Fesshaye, Prachi Singh, Emily Miller, Caroline Badzi, Emefa Modey, Marleen Temmerman, Ferdinand Okwaro, Renato Souza

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Maternal immunization provides essential maternal and fetal protection for several infectious diseases. The variability in vaccination guidelines for pregnant women across countries and through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the perception of both the general public and broader health care systems towards COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy and moreover shaped the accessibility and decision-making trajectory of pregnant women to become fully vaccinated. As part of a larger multi-country, mixed-methods study, the purpose of this cross-sectional analysis is to assess what factors are associated with pregnant women being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, and Pakistan. In each …

A Global Prospective Harmonization Framework For Suicidality, Anhedonia, And Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms In Psychiatric Genetic Studies: A Cross-Continental Study Within The Ancestral Population Network, Ana Diaz-Zuluaga, Jacey Anderberg, Ana Ramirez-Diaz, Andrea Marques, Catherine Rast, Daniel Bustamante, Deborah Jonker, Johanna Valencia-Echeverry, Stella Gichuru, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

This study aims to prospectively collect harmonized, quantitative, and dimensional psychiatric phenotypes (suicidality, anhedonia, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms) and information on discrimination, stigma, and unfair treatment in up to 27,500 individuals across diverse ancestries and clinical populations for genetic analysis within the NIMH Ancestral Population Network (APN). Five APN projects are participating in the current study (PUMAS-Paisa, PUMAS-NeuroGAP, KOMOGEN-D, LATINO, and SAX-II), spanning recruitment over 15 countries across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Participants are being enrolled via the recruitment protocols specific to each participating project. The harmonized clinical battery includes the Columbia-Suicide Severity Scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Florida Obsessive-Compulsive …

Low-Abundance And Fragmentary Helicobacter Pylori Dna Detected In Phenotypically Negative Gastric Biopsies Using Targeted Sequencing, Fabien Mbaya-Tshibangu, Alain Cimuanga-Mukanya, Evariste Tshibangu-Kabamba, Nadine Kayiba-Kalenda, Tressy Kalenga-Ngomba, Patrick Ngoma-Kisoko, Gunturu Revathi, Junko Akada, Benoît Mbiya-Mukinayi, Augustin Tshibaka Kabongo

Pathology, East Africa

Accurate detection and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Helicobacter pylori mainly rely on phenotypic methods and culture, which can sometimes fail when bacterial load is low or after recent treatment. We investigated whether gastric biopsies classified as H. pylori-negative by standard diagnostic techniques still contain detectable bacterial DNA, including regions linked to AMR, and assessed whether selected DNA fragments can mediate allelic exchange in vitro. Gastric biopsies from 46 dyspeptic patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including 23 phenotypically positive and 23 phenotypically negative individuals) were analyzed using long-read amplicon sequencing of seven resistance-associated loci, selective whole-genome …

Social Correlates Of Trauma And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Importance Of Context, Lukoye Atwoli, Linnet Ongeri

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Understanding trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) requires a contextual perspective that considers historical legacies, social environments, and cultural realities. This paper draws on empirical evidence from Kenya and Uganda to demonstrate the limitations of applying trauma frameworks developed in high-income countries to African contexts. Findings from the Orphaned and Separated Children’s Assessment Related to Their Health and Well-Being (OSCAR) study challenge assumptions about care environments. The study reveals higher PTSD rates among orphans in family-based settings compared to institutional care, and highlights the protective roles of religion and social support. The Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) study provides …

Depressive And Anxiety Symptomatology Among Caregivers Of Children 0-3 Years In Nairobi City County: Community-Based Prevalence Study, Esther Chongwo, Japhet Adina, Kevinson Mwangi, Tabitha Shali, Edwin Dzoro, Cynthia Shitote, Vibian Angweny, Rachel Odhiambo, Margaret Kabue, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Caregivers of young children in low-resource urban settings face multiple stressors, which can affect their mental health. There is limited population-based evidence on the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety among caregivers of young children in these contexts. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among caregivers of young children in Nairobi City County. We conducted a cross-sectional household survey with 2,903 primary caregivers of children 0–3 years. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using validated Swahili versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively, with a cut-off score …

The Role Of Outer Setting Health System Factors In The Use Of Hydroxyurea For Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anemia, Rollins Angela, Joseph Rujumba, Ruth Namazzi, Deogratius Munube, John Chandy, Russell Ware, Doreen Apolot, Andew Ssali, Henry Nancy, Robert Opoka

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) causes childhood morbidity and mortality in Uganda and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Hydroxyurea is safe and effective, but not currently widely used in Uganda. We piloted a toolkit to support hydroxyurea use in two public health clinics: a regional referral hospital in a peri-urban area and a district hospital in a rural area. Implementation supports included a manual, expert training, and coaching over 2 years. We conducted key informant interviews and focus groups with national stakeholders, hospital leaders, healthcare workers, patient caregivers, and patients early in Year 1 and later in Year 2. Embedded research …

Assessing The Association Between Musculoskeletal Injury And Mental Health In Rugby Players-A Cross-Sectional Study, Mordicai Atinga, Jasmit Shah, Sarah Karanja, Mark Lumbasi, Miriam Ndungu, Sarah Kiburi, James Ondiege, Njalalle Baraza

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are common among athletes and can negatively affect both physical and psychological wellbeing. Beyond physical disability, injuries have been linked to poor mental health, loss of athletic identity, and increased substance use. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where awareness and management of mental health remain limited, the psychological burden of sports injuries may be underrecognized. Rugby, a physically demanding contact sport, has one of the highest rates of injury, but little is known about how such injuries influence mental health and related outcomes in African contexts. This study explored the relationship between musculoskeletal injuries and health …

Prevalence Of Plasmodium Ovale And Plasmodium Malariae Mixed Infections And Associated Mortality In Children With Severe Falciparum Malaria, Giselle Lima-Cooper, Dibyadyuti Datta, Caitlin Bond, Kagan Mellencamp, Ruth Namazzi, Mahesh Gupta, Andrea Conroy, Robert Opoka, Chandy John

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

The prevalence and clinical significance of mixed Plasmodium infections in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria are not well characterized. In a cohort of 440 Ugandan children hospitalized with severe malaria who were diagnosed with Plasmodium species via microscopy, nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) testing was used to detect P. falciparum, Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale), Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae), and Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) infections and assess their association with adverse clinical outcomes during hospitalization. Using nPCR testing, the Plasmodium 18S small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene was detected in 440 children. Plasmodium falciparum mono-infection was identified in 329 (74.8%) …

The 2025 Accra Declaration On Upskilling And Cost- Effective Cardiac Surgery In Africa, Charles Yankah, Jonathan Nwiloh, Carlos Mestres, Abdelmalek Bouzid, Tom Mwambu, Andrew Duncan, Mohamed Debieche, Samuel Omokhodion, Uvie Onakpoya, Matthias Angres

General Surgery, East Africa

The Pan-African Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (PASCaTS) organized the 1st Pan-African Cardiothoracic Surgery Summit on 21 to 24 February 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The summit brought together leading specialists from across Africa, China, Europe, South America and the USA to address the growing burden of cardiovascular disease, to share their vision for the fight against cardiovascular disease, to raise standards in the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of patients thereby improving procedural safety and clinical outcomes in Africa. The experts agreed on the need for cost effectiveness in cardiac surgery, simulation skills training, an African regional cardiothoracic surgery database, African heart …

Impaired Fetal Brain Growth And Neurodevelopmental Deficits At 2 Years: Deep Phenotyping Of Maternal–Fetal Pathophysiology, José Villar, Maria Carvalho, Robert Gunier, Rose Mcgready, Yolotzin Valdespino, Kim Lagerborg, Fernando Barros, Agustin Conde-Agudelo, Shane Norris, R. Ochieng

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background Impaired fetal cranial growth trajectories, diverging before 20 weeks' gestation, are associated with growth, vision, and neurodevelopment deficits at age 2 years. We aimed to understand the maternal–fetal pathophysiological processes underlying childhood developmental deficiencies.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2019, the INTERBIO-21st Fetal Study enrolled 3598 pregnant women who initiated antenatal care before 14 weeks' gestation. We prospectively measured fetal cranial and linear growth and brain volume, and we monitored the infants' health, growth, and development from birth to age 2 years to identify growth and development phenotypes. We grouped the observed cranial growth into five distinct phenotypes: median growth …

Feasibility And Safety Of Intrapartum Foetal Pulse Oximetry Using A Disposable Scalp Probe: A Cross-Sectional Study, Felix Oindi, Mukaindo Mwaniki, Sikolia Wanyonyi, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background Assessment of foetal wellbeing during labour is critical for reducing adverse perinatal outcomes. While pulse oximetry is widely used in adult and paediatric medicine, its application in intrapartum foetal monitoring remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a foetal pulse oximeter device (OxiReed™, formerly First Touch™) for obtaining intrapartum foetal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measurements.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital involving 110 women in the first or second stage of labour. Eligible participants had singleton pregnancies at ≥ 34 weeks’ gestation, vertex presentation, and ruptured membranes. A disposable foetal …