Towards zero mortality in sickle cell pregnancy: A prospective study comparing haemoglobin SS and AA women in Lagos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell disease in pregnancy carries increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Past studies on pregnancy complications in sickle cell disease women were limited by relatively small sample sizes, and use of retrospective and hospital discharge data. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective case-control study compared booked pregnant Haemoglobin (Hb) SS women with AA controls from two tertiary centres in Lagos, in order to precisely identify their complication and mortality rates and identify associated factors. Eligible pregnant HbSS and HbAA women were recruited from antenatal clinics at booking and follow-up visits. Information was collected on a proforma and data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. RESULTS: We found higher complication rate in HbSS group, commonest complications being vaso-occlusive crisis (RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.22 - 1.78), pregnancy induced hypertension (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08 - 1.57), urinary tract infection (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.12 - 1.57), and intrauterine growth restriction (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.34). HbSS group had higher systolic and mean arterial blood pressure values in early puerperium compared to HbAA group (p = 0.014 and 0.024 respectively). No maternal death recorded in both group. Incidence of low birth weight <2.5Kg was 38% in HbSS and 4% in HbAA subjects, p = 0.001. However, overall maternal and perinatal outcomes were comparable in both groups (p = 1.000). CONCLUSION: Although sickle cell disease poses higher obstetric risk in pregnancy, maternal and perinatal outcome can be as good as in the non-sickle cell pregnant women if adequate and prompt individualized care is given to this group of women.

Neonatal Outcomes of Early Term Versus Late-Term Births in a University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence of an association between early term birth and adverse neonatal outcomes. However, there is a paucity of data on the true neonatal outcomes following term deliveries in lower-income countries, including Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: This study compared the neonatal outcomes of early and late-term deliveries in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a five-year retrospective cohort study of all term deliveries between January 2013 and December 2017. Data were obtained from the labour ward and neonatal ward admission registers and medical records of the hospital. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed for all relevant data. Statistical significance was reported at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 1,001 deliveries reviewed and analysed for this study, 215 recorded adverse neonatal events, with a significantly higher proportion of these occurring in early term compared to late-term delivered pregnancies (75.8% versus 24.2%, p < 0.001). There was a statistically higher rate of NICU admission in early term neonates than in late-term neonates (14.3 versus 3.9%, p < 0.001). Respiratory complications were the most common adverse outcomes experienced by neonates in both groups. However, the early term neonates had a higher risk even when adjusted for sex, birth weight, and mode of delivery. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the substantial impact of gestational age on neonatal outcomes, with early term neonates at a significantly higher risk of adverse events compared to late-term neonates. Strategies aimed at reducing the rates of elective early term induction of labour and caesarean deliveries may help minimize the occurrence of adverse neonatal outcomes in our setting.

Inequalities in use of hospitals for childbirth among rural women in sub-Saharan Africa: a comparative analysis of 18 countries using Demographic and Health Survey data.

INTRODUCTION: Rising facility births in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) mask inequalities in higher-level emergency care-typically in hospitals. Limited research has addressed hospital use in women at risk of or with complications, such as high parity, linked to poverty and rurality, for whom hospital care is essential. We aimed to address this gap, by comparatively assessing hospital use in rural SSA by wealth and parity. METHODS: Countries in SSA with a Demographic and Health Survey since 2015 were included. We assessed rural hospital childbirth stratifying by wealth (wealthier/poorer) and parity (nulliparity/high parity≥5), and their combination. We computed percentages, 95% CIs and percentage-point differences, by stratifier level. To compare hospital use across countries, we produced a composite index, including six utilisation and equality indicators. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study included 18 countries. In all, a minority of rural women used hospitals for childbirth (2%-29%). There were disparities by wealth and parity, and poorer, high-parity women used hospitals least. The poorer/wealthier difference in utilisation among high-parity women ranged between 1.3% (Mali) and 13.2% (Rwanda). We found use and equality of hospitals in rural settings were greater in Malawi and Liberia, followed by Zimbabwe, the Gambia and Rwanda. DISCUSSION: Inequalities identified across 18 countries in rural SSA indicate poor, higher-risk women of high parity had lower use of hospitals for childbirth. Specific policy attention is urgently needed for this group where disadvantage accumulates.

Geographical accessibility to functional emergency obstetric care facilities in urban Nigeria using closer-to-reality travel time estimates: a population-based spatial analysis.

BACKGROUND: Better accessibility for emergency obstetric care facilities can substantially reduce maternal and perinatal deaths. However, pregnant women and girls living in urban settings face additional complex challenges travelling to facilities. We aimed to assess the geographical accessibility of the three nearest functional public and private comprehensive emergency obstetric care facilities in the 15 largest Nigerian cities via a novel approach that uses closer-to-reality travel time estimates than traditional model-based approaches. METHODS: In this population-based spatial analysis, we mapped city boundaries, verified and geocoded functional comprehensive emergency obstetric care facilities, and mapped the population distribution for girls and women aged 15-49 years (ie, of childbearing age). We used the Google Maps Platform's internal Directions Application Programming Interface to derive driving times to public and private facilities. Median travel time and the percentage of women aged 15-49 years able to reach care were summarised for eight traffic scenarios (peak and non-peak hours on weekdays and weekends) by city and within city under different travel time thresholds (≤15 min, ≤30 min, ≤60 min). FINDINGS: As of 2022, there were 11·5 million girls and women aged 15-49 years living in the 15 studied cities, and we identified the location and functionality of 2020 comprehensive emergency obstetric care facilities. City-level median travel time to the nearest comprehensive emergency obstetric care facility ranged from 18 min in Maiduguri to 46 min in Kaduna. Median travel time varied by location within a city. The between-ward IQR of median travel time to the nearest public comprehensive emergency obstetric care varied from the narrowest in Maiduguri (10 min) to the widest in Benin City (41 min). Informal settlements and peripheral areas tended to be worse off compared to the inner city. The percentages of girls and women aged 15-49 years within 60 min of their nearest public comprehensive emergency obstetric care ranged from 83% in Aba to 100% in Maiduguri, while the percentage within 30 min ranged from 33% in Aba to over 95% in Ilorin and Maiduguri. During peak traffic times, the median number of public comprehensive emergency obstetric care facilities reachable by women aged 15-49 years under 30 min was zero in eight (53%) of 15 cities. INTERPRETATION: Better access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care is needed in Nigerian cities and solutions need to be tailored to context. The innovative approach used in this study provides more context-specific, finer, and policy-relevant evidence to support targeted efforts aimed at improving comprehensive emergency obstetric care geographical accessibility in urban Africa. FUNDING: Google.

Socio-spatial equity analysis of relative wealth index and emergency obstetric care accessibility in urban Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Better geographical accessibility to comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) facilities can significantly improve pregnancy outcomes. However, with other factors, such as affordability critical for care access, it is important to explore accessibility across groups. We assessed CEmOC geographical accessibility by wealth status in the 15 most-populated Nigerian cities. METHODS: We mapped city boundaries, verified and geocoded functional CEmOC facilities, and assembled population distribution for women of childbearing age and Meta's Relative Wealth Index (RWI). We used the Google Maps Platform's internal Directions Application Programming Interface to obtain driving times to public and private facilities. City-level median travel time (MTT) and number of CEmOC facilities reachable within 60 min were summarised for peak and non-peak hours per wealth quintile. The correlation between RWI and MTT to the nearest public CEmOC was calculated. RESULTS: We show that MTT to the nearest public CEmOC facility is lowest in the wealthiest 20% in all cities, with the largest difference in MTT between the wealthiest 20% and least wealthy 20% seen in Onitsha (26 vs 81 min) and the smallest in Warri (20 vs 30 min). Similarly, the average number of public CEmOC facilities reachable within 60 min varies (11 among the wealthiest 20% and six among the least wealthy in Kano). In five cities, zero facilities are reachable under 60 min for the least wealthy 20%. Those who live in the suburbs particularly have poor accessibility to CEmOC facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the least wealthy mostly have poor accessibility to care. Interventions addressing CEmOC geographical accessibility targeting poor people are needed to address inequities in urban settings.

Access to critical obstetric care can be lifesaving for pregnant women and their offspring. However, socioeconomic factors are known to affect accessibility to health services across different groups. Here, we assessed peak and off-peak travel times to functional health facilities for women from 15 Nigerian cities, using travel time estimates produced by Google Maps and stratified by wealth status. Travel time to the nearest hospital and the number of hospitals reachable within 60 min varied across cities. The wealthiest 20% across all cities had the shortest travel time and vice versa for the least wealthy 20%. Women who live in the suburbs particularly have poor accessibility. Tailored action is needed to improve access for vulnerable populations living in urban settings.

Intravenous versus oral iron for anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria (IVON): an open-label, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral iron for anaemia in pregnancy is often not well tolerated, with poor adherence. Iron administered intravenously might address these tolerance and adherence issues. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate on anaemia and iron deficiency among pregnant women in Nigeria. METHODS: We did a multicentre, open-label, parallel, randomised controlled trial of pregnant women (aged 15-49 years) with haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of less than 10 g/dL at 20-32 weeks' gestation from 11 primary, secondary, or tertiary health facilities in Nigeria (five in Lagos and six in Kano). Exclusion criteria included vaginal bleeding, blood transfusion or major surgery within the past 3 months, symptomatic anaemia, anaemia known to be unrelated to iron deficiency, clinically confirmed malabsorption syndrome, previous hypersensitivity to any form of iron, pre-existing maternal depression or other major psychiatric illness, immune-related diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, or severe allergic reactions. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by nurses and doctors using a web-based randomisation service to either receive a single dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (20 mg/kg to a maximum of 1000 mg) or oral ferrous sulphate (200 mg; 65 mg elemental iron) three times daily until 6 weeks postpartum. The study was primarily unmasked. Primary outcomes were maternal anaemia (Hb <11 g/dL) at 36 weeks' gestation and preterm birth at before 37 weeks' gestation, with analysis by intention to treat in participants with available data. This study was registered at the ISRCTN registry on Dec 10, 2020 (ISRCTN63484804) and on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04976179) on April 7, 2021. FINDINGS: Between Aug 10, 2021, and Dec 15, 2022, 13 724 pregnant women were screened for eligibility. 12 668 were excluded due to ineligibility for inclusion, and 1056 provided consent to participate and were randomly assigned to either the intravenous or oral administration groups. 527 were assigned to the intravenous ferric carboxymaltose group and 529 were assigned to the oral ferrous sulphate group. 518 in the intravenous group were assessed at 36 weeks' gestational age and after 518 deliveries, and 511 completed the 6 weeks postpartum visit. 513 in the oral ferrous sulphate group were assessed at 36 weeks' gestational age and after 512 deliveries, and 501 completed the 6 weeks postpartum visit. No significant difference was found in anaemia at 36 weeks (299 [58%] of 517 in the intravenous group vs 305 [61%] of 503 in the oral group; risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·85-1·06; p=0·36), nor in preterm birth (73 [14%] of 518 vs 77 [15%] of 513; 0·94, 0·70-1·26; p=0·66). There were no significant differences in adverse events. The most common adverse events were diarrhoea (in six participants) and vomiting (in three participants) in the oral group and fatigue (in two participants) and headache (in two participants) in the intravenous group. INTERPRETATION: Although the effect on overall anaemia did not differ, intravenous iron reduced the prevalence of iron deficiency to a greater extent than oral iron and was considered to be safe. We recommend that intravenous iron be considered for anaemic pregnant women in Nigeria and similar settings. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Artificial intelligence guided screening for cardiomyopathies in an obstetric population: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

Nigeria has the highest reported incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy worldwide. This open-label, pragmatic clinical trial randomized pregnant and postpartum women to usual care or artificial intelligence (AI)-guided screening to assess its impact on the diagnosis left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in the perinatal period. The study intervention included digital stethoscope recordings with point of-care AI predictions and a 12-lead electrocardiogram with asynchronous AI predictions for LVSD. The primary end point was identification of LVSD during the study period. In the intervention arm, the primary end point was defined as the number of identified participants with LVSD as determined by a positive AI screen, confirmed by echocardiography. In the control arm, this was the number of participants with clinical recognition and documentation of LVSD on echocardiography in keeping with current standard of care. Participants in the intervention arm had a confirmatory echocardiogram at baseline for AI model validation. A total of 1,232 (616 in each arm) participants were randomized and 1,195 participants (587 intervention arm and 608 control arm) completed the baseline visit at 6 hospitals in Nigeria between August 2022 and September 2023 with follow-up through May 2024. Using the AI-enabled digital stethoscope, the primary study end point was met with detection of 24 out of 587 (4.1%) versus 12 out of 608 (2.0%) patients with LVSD (intervention versus control odds ratio 2.12, 95% CI 1.05-4.27; P = 0.032). With the 12-lead AI-electrocardiogram model, the primary end point was detected in 20 out of 587 (3.4%) versus 12 out of 608 (2.0%) patients (odds ratio 1.75, 95% CI 0.85-3.62; P = 0.125). A similar direction of effect was observed in prespecified subgroup analysis. There were no serious adverse events related to study participation. In pregnant and postpartum women, AI-guided screening using a digital stethoscope improved the diagnosis of pregnancy-related cardiomyopathy. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05438576.

Intramuscular versus intravenous anti-D for preventing Rhesus alloimmunization during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Antibodies to the red cell Rhesus D (RhD) antigen can be produced during pregnancy in a RhD-negative mother carrying a RhD-positive fetus, in particular following feto-maternal haemorrhage at birth or following any procedure that may cause feto-maternal haemorrhage. While the first baby is usually not harmed, these antibodies may cause haemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn (HDFN) in subsequent RhD-positive babies. RhD incompatibility is a major cause of HDFN.To reduce the risk of HDFN, anti-D is given to RhD-negative mothers at 28 or 30 weeks of pregnancy and within 72 hours of potential maternal exposure to fetal red cells. Anit-D is currently available in both intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) preparations. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and effectiveness of IM versus IV anti-D IgG in preventing RhD alloimmunization in RhD-negative pregnant women. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 September 2012). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized trials and cluster-randomized trials comparing IM and IV anti-D for preventing RhD alloimmunization in RhD-negative pregnant women. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and assessed trial quality. Two review authors extracted data. Data were checked for consistency by both authors. MAIN RESULTS: Two studies involving 447 (with sample sizes 14 and 432) RhD negative women were included. The studies compared IM and IV administration of anti-D prophylaxis. In both studies the women received a 1500 IU (300 microgram) dose of Rhophylac during week 28 of gestation. There was no incidence of RhD alloimmunization in either of the studies, as the sample size was insufficient for meaningful comparison of this uncommon outcome. One of the studies found that the mean anti-D IgG concentrations after IV and IM administration differed up to seven days (36.1 (2.6) ng/mL IV; 19.8 (8.7) ng/mL IM on day seven). However, from two to three weeks post-administration, the concentrations were similar for both routes of administration. None of the women involved in the studies developed antibodies against the RhD antigen. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: It appears that IM and IV administration of anti-D are equally effective. The number of included studies and the number of participants are not enough to assess whether there are any differences. Anti-D can be administered by IM or IV injection. The choice of IM or IV route of administration will depend on the available preparations, the dose to be administered and also on the patients' preferences. This review found insufficient information upon which to guide practice due to the limited number of included studies, small sample sizes and methodological limitations.

A continuous quality improvement strategy to strengthen screening practices and facilitate the routine use of intravenous iron for treating anaemia in pregnant and postpartum women in Nigeria: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-related anaemia is a public health challenge across Africa. Over 50% of pregnant women in Africa get diagnosed with this condition, and up to 75% of these are caused by iron deficiency. The condition is a significant contributor to the high maternal deaths across the continent and, in particular, Nigeria, which accounts for about 34% of global maternal deaths. Whereas oral iron is the mainstay treatment for pregnancy-related anaemia in Nigeria, this treatment is not very effective given the slow absorption of the medication, and its gastrointestinal adverse effects which lead to poor compliance by women. Intravenous iron is an alternative therapy which can rapidly replenish iron stores, but fears of anaphylactic reactions, as well as several misconceptions, have inhibited its routine use. Newer and safer intravenous iron formulations, such as ferric carboxymaltose, present an opportunity to overcome some concerns relating to adherence. Routine use of this formulation will, however, require addressing misconceptions and systemic barriers to adoption in the continuum of care of obstetric women from screening to treatment. This study aims to test the options to strengthen routine screening for anaemia during and immediately after pregnancy, as well as evaluate and improve conditions necessary to deliver ferric carboxymaltose to pregnant and postpartum women with moderate to severe anaemia. METHODS: This study will be conducted in a cluster of six health facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study will employ continuous quality improvement through the Diagnose-Intervene-Verify-Adjust framework and Tanahashi's model for health system evaluation to identify and improve systemic bottlenecks to the adoption and implementation of the intervention. Participatory Action Research will be employed to engage health system actors, health services users, and other stakeholders to facilitate change. Evaluation will be guided by the consolidated framework for implementation research and the normalisation process theory. DISCUSSION: We expect the study to evolve transferable knowledge on barriers and facilitators to the routine use of intravenous iron that will inform scale-up across Nigeria, as well as the adoption of the intervention and strategies in other countries across Africa.

A geospatial database of close-to-reality travel times to obstetric emergency care in 15 Nigerian conurbations.

Travel time estimation accounting for on-the-ground realities between the location where a need for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) arises and the health facility capable of providing EmOC is essential for improving pregnancy outcomes. Current understanding of travel time to care is inadequate in many urban areas of Africa, where short distances obscure long travel times and travel times can vary by time of day and road conditions. Here, we describe a database of travel times to comprehensive EmOC facilities in the 15 most populated extended urban areas of Nigeria. The travel times from cells of approximately 0.6 × 0.6 km to facilities were derived from Google Maps Platform's internal Directions Application Programming Interface, which incorporates traffic considerations to provide closer-to-reality travel time estimates. Computations were done to the first, second and third nearest public or private facilities. Travel time for eight traffic scenarios (including peak and non-peak periods) and number of facilities within specific time thresholds were estimated. The database offers a plethora of opportunities for research and planning towards improving EmOC accessibility.

Regional versus general anaesthesia for caesarean section.

BACKGROUND: Regional anaesthesia (RA) and general anaesthesia (GA) are commonly used for caesarean section (CS) and both have advantages and disadvantages. It is important to clarify what type of anaesthesia is more efficacious. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of RA with those of GA on the outcomes of CS. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 November 2011). We updated the search on 20 August 2012 and added the results to the awaiting classification section of the review. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials evaluating the use of RA and GA in women who had CS for any indication. Cluster-randomised trials and trials using a cross-over design are not included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. Data were checked for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-two out of 29 included studies (1793 women) contributed data to this review.The included studies did not report some our primary outcomes: maternal death, incidence of maternal postoperative wound infection, maternal postoperative other infection such as endometritis and urinary tract infection, neonatal death.Compared to women who had GA, women who had either epidural anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia were found to have a significantly lower difference between pre and postoperative haematocrit. For epidural, the mean difference (MD) was 1.70% and 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47 to 2.93 (one trial, 231 women) and for spinal anaesthesia, the MD was 3.10% and 95% CI 1.73 to 4.47 (one trial, 209 women). Compared with GA, women having either an epidural anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia had a lower estimated maternal blood loss (epidural versus GA: standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.32 mL; 95% CI -0.56 to -0.07; two trials, 256 women; spinal versus GA anaesthesia: SMD -0.59 mL; 95% CI -0.83 to 0.35; two trials, 279 women). There was evidence of a significant difference in terms of satisfaction with anaesthetic technique -  compared with the epidural or spinal group, more women in the GA group stated they would use the same technique again if they needed CS for a subsequent pregnancy (epidural versus GA: risk ratio (RR) 0.80; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.98; one trial, 223 women; spinal versus GA anaesthesia: RR 0.80; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.99; one trial, 221 women).No significant difference was seen in terms of neonatal Apgar scores of six or less and of four or less at five minutes and the need for neonatal resuscitation with oxygen. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence from this review to show that RA is superior to GA in terms of major maternal or neonatal outcomes. Further research to evaluate neonatal morbidity and maternal outcomes, such as satisfaction with technique, will be useful.

Evidence-based obstetric management of women with sickle cell disease in low-income countries.

Pregnancy in women with sickle cell disease (SCD) is fraught with complications, some of which are life-threatening. Managing pregnancy in these women can be challenging, especially with poor resources, which is often the case in low-income countries. In Nigeria, for instance, up to 90% of patients pay out of pocket for medical care due to the poorly developed health insurance system, and this worsens the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. We describe a pragmatic approach to routinely managing pregnant women with SCD in the antenatal period, showing the feasibility of effective management of these high-risk pregnancies in limited-resource settings. We also present the case of a pregnant Nigerian woman with SCD who has intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and acute chest syndrome (ACS), conditions that are life-threatening for the fetus and the mother, respectively, and require prompt intervention. We highlight how we successfully managed this woman in a cost-effective manner by employing relatively inexpensive tests for diagnosis and treating her effectively with oxygen, appropriate antibiotics and manual exchange blood transfusion for the ACS, and finger pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen saturation. We explore pathophysiological concepts to IUGR in women with SCD and briefly discuss the appropriate mode of delivery, including the options for pain relief in labor.

Actions and Adaptations Implemented for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Service Provision During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria: Qualitative Study of Health Facility Leaders.

Background: The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in provision of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with fragile health systems, such as Nigeria. Measures taken to 'flatten the curve' such as lockdowns, curfews, travel restrictions, and suspension of public services inadvertently led to significant disruptions in provision of essential health services. In these countries, health facility leaders are directly responsible for driving changes needed for service delivery. Objective: To explore perspectives of health facility leaders in Lagos, Nigeria, on solutions and adaptations implemented to support MNCH service provision during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Key informant interviews were remotely conducted with purposively sampled 33 health facility leaders across primary, secondary, and tertiary public health facilities in Lagos between July and November 2020. Following verbatim transcription of recordings, data familiarization, and coding, thematic analysis was used to synthesize data. Results: Health facility leaders scaled down or discontinued outpatient MNCH services and elective surgeries. However, deliveries, newborn, immunization, and emergency services continued. Service provision was reorganized with long and staggered patient appointments, collapsing of wards and modification of health worker duty rosters. Some secondary and tertiary facilities leveraged technology like WhatsApp, webinars, and telemedicine to support service provision. Continuous capacity-building for health workers through training, motivation, psychological support, and atypical sourcing of PPE was instituted to be able to safely maintain service delivery. Conclusion: Health facility leaders led the frontline of the COVID-19 response. While they took to implementing global and national guidelines within their facilities, they also pushed innovative facility-driven adaptations to address the indirect effects of COVID-19. Insights gathered provide lessons to foster resilient LMIC health systems for MNCH service provision in a post-COVID-19 world.

Effects of a mHealth voice messaging intervention on antenatal care utilisation at primary care level in Lagos, Nigeria: a cluster randomised trial.

Background: Nigeria has one of the lowest antenatal care (ANC) utilization rates compared to other low- and middle-income nations. In order to ensure a positive pregnant experience, the World Health Organization recommends at least eight ANC visits during pregnancy. This study intends to examine the impact of a mobile phone-based voice message intervention on ANC use in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: In this cluster-randomized experiment, primary healthcare centres were divided into five intervention and five control groups using multistage simple random sampling. The intervention consisted of a weekly voice message transmitted through mobile phone from the time of recruitment in the first trimester until two weeks postpartum. Attending at least eight ANC visits before birth was the primary outcome. STATA v17.0 was used to conduct descriptive and bivariate analyses as well as multivariate linear models to calculate crude risk ratios. Results: 458 women participated. All intervention group women (269 women, or 58.7% of the sample) received the text message. These ladies were mostly married, Christian, had several children, and had completed high school. Women who received the intervention were more likely to attend eight ANC visits. Conclusion: A voice message-based intervention can boost ANC utilization, according to the conclusion. This contributes to the existing body of information about the influence of mHealth treatments on maternal health outcomes and serves as a useful tool for ensuring that no woman is left behind.

Effects of pregnancy on cardiac structure and function in women with sickle cell anemia: a longitudinal comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia is the commonest hemoglobinopathy in pregnant Nigerian women, and cardiac manifestations are a significant feature of the disease especially in pregnancy. Pregnant women with sickle cell anemia are at high risk of morbidity and mortality and cardiac dysfunction in them increases this risk and may compromise their post-partum health. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiac size and function in women with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) during late pregnancy and postpartum. METHODOLOGY: This was a longitudinal comparative study in which 40 women, consisting of 20 pregnant HBSS and 20 pregnant HBAA women controls, were recruited. Echocardiography was performed in the third trimester of pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the mean left atrial diameter (p < .001), left ventricular diameter in diastole (p = .041), and left ventricular mass (p = .004) of HBSS women in the postpartum period compared to their antepartum state. In contrast, there was no significant difference in most cardiac dimensions of pregnant vs postpartum HBAA women. There was no significant change in cardiac function in the pregnant vs postpartum states in both study groups. There were significant differences in cardiac size but not function when comparing HBSS and HBAA women in pregnancy and postpartum. CONCLUSION: Changes in cardiac size of sickle cell women in pregnancy does not appear to affect cardiac function during pregnancy and in the puerperium, suggesting that the increased size may purely be a response to their chronic anemic state. Studies following women up for longer periods including those with co-morbidities are recommended.

Leveraging big data for improving the estimation of close to reality travel time to obstetric emergency services in urban low- and middle-income settings.

Maternal and perinatal mortality remain huge challenges globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where >98% of these deaths occur. Emergency obstetric care (EmOC) provided by skilled health personnel is an evidence-based package of interventions effective in reducing these deaths associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Until recently, pregnant women residing in urban areas have been considered to have good access to care, including EmOC. However, emerging evidence shows that due to rapid urbanization, this so called "urban advantage" is shrinking and in some LMIC settings, it is almost non-existent. This poses a complex challenge for structuring an effective health service delivery system, which tend to have poor spatial planning especially in LMIC settings. To optimize access to EmOC and ultimately reduce preventable maternal deaths within the context of urbanization, it is imperative to accurately locate areas and population groups that are geographically marginalized. Underpinning such assessments is accurately estimating travel time to health facilities that provide EmOC. In this perspective, we discuss strengths and weaknesses of approaches commonly used to estimate travel times to EmOC in LMICs, broadly grouped as reported and modeled approaches, while contextualizing our discussion in urban areas. We then introduce the novel OnTIME project, which seeks to address some of the key limitations in these commonly used approaches by leveraging big data. The perspective concludes with a discussion on anticipated outcomes and potential policy applications of the OnTIME project.

Intravenous versus oral iron for iron deficiency anaemia in pregnant Nigerian women (IVON): study protocol for a randomised hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia in pregnancy is highly prevalent in African countries. High-dose oral iron is the current recommended treatment for pregnancy-related iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in Nigeria and other African countries. This oral regimen is often poorly tolerated and has several side effects. Parenteral iron preparations are now available for the treatment of IDA in pregnancy but not widely used in Africa. The IVON trial is investigating the comparative effectiveness and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate standard-of-care for pregnancy-related IDA in Nigeria. We will also measure the implementation outcomes of acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and cost-effectiveness for intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. METHODS: This is an open-label randomised controlled trial with a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation design, conducted at 10 health facilities in Kano (Northern) and Lagos (Southern) states in Nigeria. A total of 1056 pregnant women at 20-32 weeks' gestational age with moderate or severe anaemia (Hb < 10g/dl) will be randomised 1:1 into two groups. The interventional treatment is one 1000-mg dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose at enrolment; the control treatment is thrice daily oral ferrous sulphate (195 mg elemental iron daily), from enrolment till 6 weeks postpartum. Primary outcome measures are (1) the prevalence of maternal anaemia at 36 weeks and (2) infant preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation) and will be analysed by intention-to-treat. Maternal full blood count and iron panel will be assayed at 4 weeks post-enrolment, 36 weeks' gestation, delivery, and 6 weeks postpartum. Implementation outcomes of acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and cost will be assessed with structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. DISCUSSION: The IVON trial could provide both effectiveness and implementation evidence to guide policy for integration and uptake of intravenous iron for treating anaemia in pregnancy in Nigeria and similar resource-limited, high-burden settings. If found effective, further studies exploring different intravenous iron doses are planned. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN63484804 . Registered on 10 December 2020 Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04976179 . Registered on 26 July 2021 The current protocol version is version 2.1 (080/080/2021).

Mannitol and other osmotic diuretics as adjuncts for treating cerebral malaria.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral oedema occurs with cerebral malaria, and some clinicians think osmotic diuretics, such as mannitol or urea, may improve outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To compare mannitol or urea to placebo or no diuretic for treating children or adults with cerebral malaria. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register (Issue 4, 2010), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 12, 2010), MEDLINE (1966 to November 2010), EMBASE (1974 to November 2010), LILACS (1982 to November 2010), and the reference lists of articles. We contacted relevant organizations and researchers. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing mannitol or urea to placebo or no treatment in children and adults with cerebral malaria. Primary outcomes were death, life-threatenining sequelae and major neurological sequelae at six months. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors applied the inclusion criteria, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data independently. MAIN RESULTS: One trial met the inclusion criteria, comparing mannitol 20% to saline placebo in 156 Ugandan children. Allocation was concealed. No difference in mortality, time to regain consciousness, or neurological sequelae were detected. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There are insufficient data to know what the effects of osmotic diuretics are in children with cerebral malaria. Larger, multicentre trials are needed.

Challenges in access and satisfaction with reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The presence of COVID-19 has led to the disruption of health systems globally, including essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services. This study aimed to assess the challenges faced by women who used RMNCH services in Nigeria's epicentre, their satisfaction with care received during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with their satisfaction. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Lagos, southwest Nigeria among 1,241 women of reproductive age who had just received RMNCH services at one of twenty-two health facilities across the primary, secondary and tertiary tiers of health care. The respondents were selected via multi-stage sampling and face to face exit interviews were conducted by trained interviewers. Client satisfaction was assessed across four sub-scales: health care delivery, health facility, interpersonal aspects of care and access to services. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between personal characteristics and client satisfaction. RESULTS: About 43.51% of respondents had at least one challenge in accessing RMNCH services since the COVID-19 outbreak. Close to a third (31.91%) could not access service because they could not leave their houses during the lockdown and 18.13% could not access service because there was no transportation. The mean clients' satisfaction score among the respondents was 43.25 (SD: 6.28) out of a possible score of 57. Satisfaction scores for the interpersonal aspects of care were statistically significantly lower in the PHCs and general hospitals compared to teaching hospitals. Being over 30 years of age was significantly associated with an increased clients' satisfaction score (ß = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.10-2.50). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 lockdown posed challenges to accessing RMNCH services for a significant proportion of women surveyed. Although overall satisfaction with care was fairly high, there is a need to provide tailored COVID-19 sensitive inter-personal care to clients at all levels of care.