Maternal and Child Health Commons^™

Institutional Deliveries And Stillbirth And Neonatal Mortality In The Global Network's Maternal And Newborn Health Registry, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Norman Goco, Manjunath S. Somannavar, Avinash Kavi, Sunil S. Vernekar, Antoinette Tshefu, Elwyn Chomba, Ana L. Garces, Sarah Saleem, Farnaz Naqvi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Few studies have shown how the move toward institutional delivery in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) impacts stillbirth and newborn mortality.
Objectives: The study evaluated trends in institutional delivery in research sites in Belagavi and Nagpur India, Guatemala, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia from 2010 to 2018 and compared them to changes in the rates of neonatal mortality and stillbirth.
Methods: We analyzed data from a nine-year interval captured in the Global Network (GN) Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR). Mortality rates were estimated from generalized estimating equations controlling for within-cluster correlation. Cluster-level analyses were performed to assess the association between …

Rates And Risk Factors For Preterm Birth And Low Birthweight In The Global Network Sites In Six Low- And Low Middle-Income Countries, Yamini V. Pusdekar, Archana B. Patel, Kunal G. Kurhe, Savita R. Bhargav, Vanessa Thorsten, Ana Garces, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sarah Saleem, Fabian Esamai

Community Health Sciences

Background: Preterm birth continues to be a major public health problem contributing to 75% of the neonatal mortality worldwide. Low birth weight (LBW) is an important but imperfect surrogate for prematurity when accurate assessment of gestational age is not possible. While there is overlap between preterm birth and LBW newborns, those that are both premature and LBW are at the highest risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. Understanding the epidemiology of preterm birth and LBW is important for prevention and improved care for at risk newborns, but in many countries, data are sparse and incomplete.
Methods: We conducted data analyses using …

Perinatal Substance Use Screenings In Marin County: A Brief Overview Of Screening Protocols And Identifying Gaps In Care, Breanna Wiliams

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction

Perinatal substance use continues to be a major public health issue in women’s health. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of substance use screenings in care and assess how well the existing services in Marin County are serving the needs of pregnant and parenting women and identifying the gaps and/or weaknesses in current practice.

Methods

Data for this study was collected via semi-structured interviews with five professionals that worked at the local community clinic, hospital and a non-profit agency. Some questions were slightly modified to be configured toward the participant’s specific profession.

Results

Results from …

Trends And Determinants Of Newborn Mortality In Kyrgyzstan: A Countdown Country Case Study, Mahdis Kamali, James E. Wright, Nadia Akseer, Hana Tasic, Kaitlin Conway, Saman Brar, Cholpon Imanalieva, Gerrit Maritz, Arjumand Rizvi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Kyrgyzstan has made considerable progress in reducing child mortality compared with other countries in the region, despite a comparatively low economic standing. However, maternal mortality is still high. Given the availability of an established birth registration system, we aimed to comprehensively assess the trends and determinants of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health in Kyrgyzstan.
Methods: For this Countdown to 2030 country case study, we used publicly available data repositories and the national birth registry of Kyrgyzstan to examine trends and inequalities of reproductive, maternal, and newborn health and mortality between 1990 and 2018, at a national and subnational …

Early Marriage And Early Childbearing In South Asia: Trends, Inequalities, And Drivers From 2005 To 2018, Samuel Scott, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sumanta Neupane, Priyanjana Pramanik, Priya Nanda, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Kaosar Afsana, Purnima Menon

Woman and Child Health

Early marriage (EM) and early childbearing (ECB) have far-reaching consequences. This study describes the prevalence, trends, inequalities, and drivers of EM and ECB in South Asia using eight rounds of Demographic and Health Survey data across 13 years. We report the percentage of ever-married women aged 20-24 years (n = 105,150) married before 18 years (EM) and with a live birth before 20 years (ECB). Relative trends were examined using average annual rate of reduction (AARR). Inequalities were examined by geography, marital household wealth, residence, and education. Sociodemographic drivers of changes for EM were assessed using regression decomposition analyses. We …

Multiomics Characterization Of Preterm Birth In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Fyezah Jehan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Muhammad Ilyas, Usma Mehmood, Aneeta Hotwani, Ambreen Nizar, Sajid Muhammad, Waqasuddin Khan, Javairia Khalid, Furqan Kabir

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Importance: Worldwide, preterm birth (PTB) is the single largest cause of deaths in the perinatal and neonatal period and is associated with increased morbidity in young children. The cause of PTB is multifactorial, and the development of generalizable biological models may enable early detection and guide therapeutic studies.
Objective: To investigate the ability of transcriptomics and proteomics profiling of plasma and metabolomics analysis of urine to identify early biological measurements associated with PTB.
Design, setting, and participants: This diagnostic/prognostic study analyzed plasma and urine samples collected from May 2014 to June 2017 from pregnant women in 5 biorepository cohorts in …

Hemoglobin Concentrations And Adverse Birth Outcomes In South Asian Pregnant Women: Findings From A Prospective Maternal And Neonatal Health Registry, Sumera Aziz Ali, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Sarah Saleem, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sangappa Dhaded, Richard J. Derman, Janet L. Moore, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Robert L. Goldenberg

Community Health Sciences

Background: While the relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and pregnancy outcomes has been studied often, most reports have focused on a specific Hb cutoff used to define anemia. Fewer studies have evaluated pregnancy outcomes across the entire range of Hb values. Moreover, to date, most studies of the relationship of Hb concentrations to pregnancy outcomes have been done in high-income countries. Thus, we have sought to determine the relationship between the range of maternal Hb concentrations and adverse birth outcomes among South Asian pregnant women.
Methods: For this study, we used data collected from two South Asian countries (Pakistan - …

The Relationship Between Birth Intervals And Adverse Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes In Six Low And Lower-Middle Income Countries, Melissa Bauserman, Kayla Nowak, Tracy L. Nolen, Jackie Patterson, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Sarah Saleem, Saleem Jessani

Community Health Sciences

Background: Due to high fertility rates in some low and lower-middle income countries, the interval between pregnancies can be short, which may lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Methods: We analyzed data from women enrolled in the NICHD Global Network Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) from 2013 through 2018. We report maternal characteristics and outcomes in relationship to the inter-delivery interval (IDI, time from previous delivery [live or stillborn] to the delivery of the index birth), by category of 6-17 months (short), 18-36 months (reference), 37-60 months, and 61-180 months (long). We used non-parametric tests for maternal characteristics, and …

Stillbirth 2010-2018: A Prospective, Population-Based, Multi-Country Study From The Global Network, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Sarah Saleem, Shivaprasad S. Gouda, Ana Garces, Ryan Whitworth, Fabian Esamai, Archana B. Patel, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Musaku Mwenechanya, Elwyn Chomba

Community Health Sciences

Background: Stillbirth rates are high and represent a substantial proportion of the under-5 mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). In LMIC, where nearly 98% of stillbirths worldwide occur, few population-based studies have documented cause of stillbirths or the trends in rate of stillbirth over time.
Methods: We undertook a prospective, population-based multi-country research study of all pregnant women in defined geographic areas across 7 sites in low-resource settings (Kenya, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Pakistan, and Guatemala). Staff collected demographic and health care characteristics with outcomes obtained at delivery. Cause of stillbirth was assigned by algorithm.
Results: From …

Neonatal Deaths In Infants Born Weighing ≥ 2500 G In Low And Middle-Income Countries, Sarah Saleem, Farnaz Naqvi, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Kayla J. Nowak, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Ana L. Garces, Patricia L. Hibberd, Janet L. Moore, Tracy L. Nolen, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Babies born weighing ≥ 2500 g account for more than 80% of the births in most resource-limited locations and for nearly 50% of the 28-day neonatal deaths. In contrast, in high-resource settings, 28-day neonatal mortality among this group represents only a small fraction of the neonatal deaths. Yet mortality risks for birth weight of ≥ 2500 g is limited. Knowledge regarding the factors associated with mortality in these babies will help in identifying interventions that can reduce mortality.
Methods: The Global Network's Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) is a prospective, population-based observational study that includes all pregnant women and …

The Global Network Maternal Newborn Health Registry: A Multi-Country, Community-Based Registry Of Pregnancy Outcomes, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Ana L. Garces, Patricia L. Hibberd, Janet L. Moore, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sarah Saleem, Fabian Esamai, Archana Patel, Elwyn Chomba, Adrien Lokangaka

Community Health Sciences

Background: The Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research (Global Network) conducts clinical trials in resource-limited countries through partnerships among U.S. investigators, international investigators based in in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and a central data coordinating center. The Global Network's objectives include evaluating low-cost, sustainable interventions to improve women's and children's health in LMICs. Accurate reporting of births, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal mortality, and measures of obstetric and neonatal care is critical to determine strategies for improving pregnancy outcomes. In response to this need, the Global Network developed the Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR), a prospective, population-based registry …

Health Care Workers’ Perspectives Of The Influences Of Disrespectful Maternity Care In Rural Kenya, Adelaide Lusambili, Stefania Wisofschi, Constance Shumba, Jerim Obure, Kennedy Mulama, Lucy Nyaga, Terrance J. Wade, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

While disrespectful treatment of pregnant women attending health care facilities occurs globally, it is more prevalent in low-resource countries. In Kenya, a large body of research studied disrespectful maternity care (DMC) from the perspective of the service users. This paper examines the perspective of health care workers (HCWs) on factors that influence DMC experienced by pregnant women at health care facilities in rural Kisii and Kilifi counties in Kenya. We conducted 24 in-depth interviews with health care workers (HCWs) in these two sites. Data were analyzed deductively and inductively using NVIVO 12. Findings from HCWs reflective narratives identified four areas …

Characterizing Prenatal Maternal Distress With Unique Prenatal Cortisol Trajectories, Gage Peterson, Emma V. Espel, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: It is widely assumed that glucocorticoids represent a primary mechanism through which exposure to adversity and maternal psychological distress shape prenatal developmental trajectories of both mother and fetus. However, despite repeated investigations and the fact that prenatal cortisol has been reliably linked to developmental outcomes, the empirical evidence supporting an association between prenatal cortisol and maternal distress is scarce. In this study, a novel approach to assessing links between maternal prenatal psychological distress and gestational cortisol profiles, general growth mixture modeling (GGMM), was applied. Method: Measures of pregnancy anxiety, perceived stress, and state anxiety and depressive symptoms as well …

Prenatal Depression And Risk Of Short Interpregnancy Interval In A Predominantly Puerto Rican Population, Katharine O White

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Short interpregnancy interval (IPI) is associated with risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, few studies have evaluated the role of depression as a risk factor for short IPI. Puerto Rican women in the United States experience disparities in adverse birth outcomes and have the highest birth rates.

Methods: We analyzed the association between prenatal depressive symptoms and IPI in Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort of predominantly Puerto Rican women in Western Massachusetts (2006–2011). Depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in early, mid, and late pregnancy. We calculated follow-up time as the difference between the …

Outcomes After In Utero Myelomeningocele Repair Based On Delivery Location, Suzanne M Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Maternal and pediatric delivery outcomes may vary in patients who underwent open fetal myelomeningocele repair and elected to deliver at the fetal center where their fetal intervention was performed versus at the referring physician’s hospital. A prospective cohort study of 88 patients were evaluated following in utero open fetal myelomeningocele repair at a single fetal center between the years 2011–2019. Exclusion criteria included patients that delivered within two weeks of the procedure (n = 6), or if a patient was lost to follow-up (n = 1). Of 82 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 36 (44%) patients were delivered at …

Outcomes After In Utero Myelomeningocele Repair Based On Delivery Location, Suzanne M Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Maternal and pediatric delivery outcomes may vary in patients who underwent open fetal myelomeningocele repair and elected to deliver at the fetal center where their fetal intervention was performed versus at the referring physician’s hospital. A prospective cohort study of 88 patients were evaluated following in utero open fetal myelomeningocele repair at a single fetal center between the years 2011–2019. Exclusion criteria included patients that delivered within two weeks of the procedure (n = 6), or if a patient was lost to follow-up (n = 1). Of 82 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 36 (44%) patients were delivered at …

Dancing During Labor: Are Women Down To Boogie?, Drew A. Horter, Kayla Heslin, Marie Forgie, Emily Malloy, Jessica J. F. Kram

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Recent social media trends have demonstrated increased interest in dancing during the final weeks of pregnancy and labor. However, there is limited evidence about dancing during labor and its impact on labor pain and duration as well as patient satisfaction. Before conducting a prospective study, given that enrollment is often challenging, our feasibility study aimed to assess the willingness of pregnant women to participate in a future study evaluating low-impact dance during labor. We anonymously surveyed a convenience sample of English-speaking/reading pregnant women who presented for prenatal care at 1 of 3 clinics from June 2019 to July 2019. Questions …

Contraceptive Methods In The United States: The Question Of Abortive Mechanisms, Tara Ferenczy

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis reviews the many methods of contraception available in the United States. Although society’s understanding of women’s health has become a major topic, there is still a significant deficit of information regarding how the accessible methods affect women’s bodies, specifically reproductive tissue. The thesis analyzes numerous contraceptive options focusing specifically on the mechanisms of action to determine whether options have abortifacient properties so that readers may develop educated opinions regarding medical and ethical uses. Information involving strengths and limitations of each technique and the effects on both the female body and the reproductive material assist in understanding the process …

Frequency And Outcome Of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome In Babies Born With Meconium-Stained Liquor At Secondary Care Hospital In Pakistan: A Case Series Study, Abdul Moeed, Heeramani Lohana, Sarwat Urooj, Sheraz Ahmed, Khalil Ahmed, Khadija N Humayun

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) in the newborn is characterized by hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis. MAS is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAP) in babies born with meconium-stained liquor. The secondary outcome was to estimate the meconium aspiration syndrome; in terms of hospital stay, complications, and mortality.
Methods: The study was done at Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre, Hyderabad, Pakistan. Study design was case series and the duration of the study was of 6 months. All patients who fulfilled …

Non-Obstetric Vulvar/Paravaginal Hematoma In An Adolescent Female With Scleroderma: An Opportunity For Intimate Partner Violence Intervention, Amanda Burnham, Jo Cooke-Barber, Stephen Thacker, Donna Evans, David Carney, William Boswell

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

A 15-year-old female presented to the emergency department with swelling and pain in her left labial region as well as urinary retention after intercourse. This was the patient’s first time having sexual intercourse and the patient stated that her boyfriend “kneed” her in the labia. A CT scan of the pelvis revealed a large vulvar/external hematoma measuring 6 x 10 x 7 cm which extended into the vaginal vault. This case is the first of a vulvar hematoma reported in a pediatric patient with scleroderma. This case was complicated by the fact that our patient claimed her boyfriend intentionally “kneed” …

The Community-Level Interventions For Pre-Eclampsia (Clip) Cluster Randomised Trials In Mozambique, Pakistan, And India: An Individual Participant-Level Meta-Analysis, Peter Von Dadelszen, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Sumedha Sharma, Jeffrey Bone, Joel Singer, Hubert Wong, Mrutyunjaya B. Bellad, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Tang Lee, Rahat Qureshi, Clip Trials Working Group

Woman and Child Health

Background: To overcome the three delays in triage, transport and treatment that underlie adverse pregnancy outcomes, we aimed to reduce all-cause adverse outcomes with community-level interventions targeting women with pregnancy hypertension in three low-income countries.
Methods: In this individual participant-level meta-analysis, we de-identified and pooled data from the Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomised controlled trials in Mozambique, Pakistan, and India, which were run in 2014-17. Consenting pregnant women, aged 12-49 years, were recruited in their homes. Clusters, defined by local administrative units, were randomly assigned (1:1) to intervention or control groups. The control groups continued local standard of …

Changing Prevalence Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus During Pregnancy Over More Than A Decade, Aisha Sheikh, Lumaan Sheikh

Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism

No abstract provided.

Barriers To Maternal Retention In Hiv Care In Ghana: Key Differences During Pregnancy And The Postpartum Period., Kwame S. Sakyi, Margaret Y. Lartey, Caitlin E. Kennedy, Julie A. Dension, Luke C. Mullany, Prince G. Owusu, Emma Sacks, Emily A. Hurley, Pamela J. Surkan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Maternal retention in HIV care is lower for women in the postpartum period than during pregnancy, but the reasons are poorly understood. We examined key differences in barriers to retention in HIV care during and after pregnancy.

METHODS: We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 postpartum women living with HIV. Participants were recruited from two tertiary facilities implementing Option B+ for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Accra, Ghana. We collected data from mothers who had disengaged from HIV care and those who were still engaged in care. The interviews were analyzed using principles adapted from grounded theory.

RESULTS: …

Strengthening The Evidence Base For Telehealth For Abortion Service Delivery, Nadi Kaonga

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Telehealth – which is the use of information and communication technology to provide clinical services to patients remotely – provides an opportunity to extend safe abortion services to women. A recent review article on telehealth for abortion service delivery found it to be acceptable, feasible and safe when compared to in-person service delivery. Despite the promising findings, the evidence base can and should be strengthened to optimize the impact of such services for women. Areas for improvement include evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of telehealth implementations in more remote settings and with women across variable levels of technoliteracy, conducting cost-effectiveness …

Delivery Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Interventions In Conflict Settings: A Systematic Review, Mariella Munyuzangabo, Dina Sami Khalifa, Michelle F. Gaffey, Mahdis Kamali, Fahad J. Siddiqui, Sarah Metek, Shailja Shah, Reena P. Jain, Daina Als, Amruta Radhakrishnan, Anushka Ataullahjan, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: It is essential to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions to women affected by armed conflict, but there is a lack of evidence on effective approaches to delivering such interventions in conflict settings. This review synthesised the available literature on SRH intervention delivery in conflict settings to inform potential priorities for further research and additional guidance development.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases using terms related to conflict, women and children, and SRH. We searched websites of 10 humanitarian organisations for relevant grey literature. Publications reporting on conflict-affected populations in low-income and middle-income countries …

Maternal Viral Load Monitoring: Coverage And Clinical Action At 4 Kenyan Hospitals., Matthew Sandbulte, Melinda Brown, Catherine Wexler, May Maloba, Brad Gautney, Kathy Goggin, Elizabeth Muchoki, Shadrack Babu, Nicodemus Maosa, Sarah Finocchario-Kessler

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Kenya's guidelines for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) recommend routine viral load (VL) monitoring for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

METHOD: We assessed PMTCT VL monitoring and clinical action occurring between last menstrual period (LMP) and 6 months postpartum at 4 Kenyan government hospitals. Pregnant women enrolled in the HIV Infant Tracking System from May 2016-March 2018 were included. We computed proportions who received VL testing within recommended timeframes and who received clinical action after unsuppressed VL result.

RESULTS: Of 424 participants, any VL testing was documented for 305 (72%) women and repeat VL testing was documented for …

Risk Factors For Postpartum Sepsis: A Nested Case-Control Study, Samina Bakhtawar, Sana Sheikh, Rahat Qureshi, Zahra Hoodbhoy, Beth Payne, Iqbal Azam Syed, Peter Von Dadelszen, Laura Magee

Community Health Sciences

Background: The Majority (99%) of maternal deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. The three most important causes of maternal deaths in these regions are postpartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and puerperal sepsis. There are several diagnostic criteria used to identify sepsis and one of the commonly used criteria is systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). However, these criteria require laboratory investigations that may not be feasible in resource-constrained settings. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a model based on risk factors and clinical signs and symptoms that can identify sepsis early among postpartum women.
Methods: A case-control study was nested in an …

Socioeconomic Status And Symptoms Of Anxiety And Depression In Pregnant Women, Meagan Mandabach

Honors Theses

Pregnancy is a period of great change in a woman’s body as her baby develops. During this period, women commonly experience symptoms of anxiety (Dennis et al., 2017) and depression (Shidhaye & Giri, 2014). Literature has suggested that socioeconomic status (SES) can contribute to the severity at which pregnant women experience anxiety and depression (Arora & Aeri, 2019; Field et al., 2008; Shagufta & Shams, 2019), and women of low socioeconomic status may be more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy (Field et al., 2008). The present study aimed to assess the relationships between household income …

An Examination Of The Association Between State Medicaid Perinatal Services And Birth Outcomes, Joy Morgan Myers

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated the connection between socioeconomic status, healthcare coverage, and birth outcomes. The research question that was posed specifically looked at twenty perinatal services that states covered under Medicaid to varying degrees to see their association, if any, with premature birth rates and low birthweight rates. State-level and Mississippi county-level data were compiled regarding preterm birth rates, low birthweight rates, presumptive eligibility adoption, and coverage of twenty different perinatal services. Using these data, the correlation between state Medicaid expansion status and birth outcomes was first calculated in order to determine if variation in birth outcomes was associated with expanded …

Assessment Of Intrapartum Nurses' Beliefs Related To Birth Practices, Janice Scaggs

Doctoral Projects

Intrapartum nurses’ beliefs influence nursing behavior and nursing interventions during labor and birth. Assessing these beliefs in a regional hospital in the Southeastern United States was the focus of the doctoral project. Before the project, there was no objective data that assessed individual nurse’s beliefs and birth practices in the labor and delivery unit, or among the nursing staff as a whole. A knowledge gap existed in understanding if the nursing culture valued, promoted, and supported intended vaginal birth. Nursing leadership recognized that the overall cesarean birth rate and primary cesarean birth rate in the hospital were similar to State …