Chromatin Accessibility Landscape in Human Early Embryos and Its Association with Evolution.

The dynamics of the chromatin regulatory landscape during human early embryogenesis remains unknown. Using DNase I hypersensitive site (DHS) sequencing, we report that the chromatin accessibility landscape is gradually established during human early embryogenesis. Interestingly, the DHSs with OCT4 binding motifs are enriched at the timing of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in humans, but not in mice. Consistently, OCT4 contributes to ZGA in humans, but not in mice. We further find that lower CpG promoters usually establish DHSs at later stages. Similarly, younger genes tend to establish promoter DHSs and are expressed at later embryonic stages, while older genes exhibit these features at earlier stages. Moreover, our data show that human active transposons SVA and HERV-K harbor DHSs and are highly expressed in early embryos, but not in differentiated tissues. In summary, our data provide an evolutionary developmental view for understanding the regulation of gene and transposon expression.

Determinants of cervical cancer screening among women of childbearing age in four sub-Saharan African countries: insights from large population surveys.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Africa. Cervical cancer screening in women is associated with decreased incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. There is a dearth of recent data regarding the prevalence and associated factors of cervical cancer screening in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study is intended to determine the prevalence and associated factors impacting cervical cancer screening among women in four sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: Data from the recent demographic and health surveys of four countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2022 and 2023. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of cervical cancer screening among women of childbearing age in four sub-Saharan African countries was 8.90% (95% CI: 8.67%, 9.13%). At the individual level, being older, educated, non-breastfeeding, employed, wealthier, sexually active, using contraceptives, having media exposure, visiting healthcare facilities in the last 12 months, and residing in urban areas were associated with higher odds of cervical cancer screening. At the community level, being from communities with a high level of literacy and media exposure increases the odds of cervical cancer screening among women in sub-Saharan Africa. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cervical cancer screening among childbearing-age women was found to be low. To improve cervical cancer screening practices among women of childbearing age, it is therefore advised to support women's empowerment, mass media campaigns, and regular visits to healthcare facilities.

Prevalence and factors associated with undocumented children under-five in Haiti.

BACKGROUND: Despite many efforts to provide children with legal existence over the last decades, 1 in 4 children under the age of 5 (166 million) do not officially exist, with limited possibility to enjoy their human rights. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Haiti has one of the highest rates of undocumented births. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and the determinant factors of undocumented childhood in Haiti. METHODS: For analysis of undocumented childhood and related socioeconomic determinants, data from the 2016/17 Haiti demographic and health survey were used. The prevalence and the associated factors were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of undocumented childhood in Haiti was 23% (95% CI: 21.9-24.0) among children under-five. Among the drivers of undocumented births, mothers with no formal education (aOR = 3.88; 95% CI 2.21-6.81), children aged less than 1 year (aOR = 20.47; 95% CI 16.83-24.89), children adopted or in foster care (aOR = 2.66; 95% CI 1.67-4.24), children from the poorest regions like "Artibonite" (aOR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.63-2.94) or "Centre" (aOR = 1.51; 95% CI 1.09-2.10) or "Nord-Ouest" (aOR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.11-2.34), children from poorest households (aOR = 6.25; 95% CI 4.37-8.93), and children whose mothers were dead (aOR = 2.45; 95% CI 1.33-4.49) had higher odds to be undocumented. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, there is an institutional necessity to bring birth documentation to underprivileged households, particularly those in the poorest regions where socioeconomic development programs are also needed. Interventions should focus on uneducated mothers who are reknown for giving birth outside of medical facilities. Therefore, an awareness campaign should be implemented to influence the children late-registering behavior.

What predicts health facility delivery among women? analysis from the 2021 Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: One of the pivotal determinants of maternal and neonatal health outcomes hinges on the choice of place of delivery. However, the decision to give birth within the confines of a health facility is shaped by a complex interplay of sociodemographic, economic, cultural, and healthcare system-related factors. This study examined the predictors of health facility delivery among women in Madagascar. METHODS: We used data from the 2021 Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 9,315 women who had a health facility delivery or delivered elsewhere for the most recent live birth preceding the survey were considered in this analysis. Descriptive analysis, and multilevel regression were carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with health facility delivery. The results were presented as frequencies, percentages, crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and a p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of health facility delivery was 41.2% [95% CI: 38.9-43.5%]. In the multilevel analysis, women aged 45-49 [aOR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.34-3.43], those with secondary/higher education [aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.30-2.01], widowed [aOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.43-3.58], and those exposed to mass media [aOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.00-1.39] had higher odds of delivering in health facilities compared to those aged 15-49, those with no formal education, women who had never been in union and not exposed to mass media respectively. Women with at least an antenatal care visit [aOR = 6.95, 95% CI = 4.95-9.77], those in the richest wealth index [aOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.99-3.77], and women who considered distance to health facility as not a big problem [aOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.09-1.50] were more likely to deliver in health facilities compared to those who had no antenatal care visit. Women who lived in communities with high literacy levels [aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.15-2.08], and women who lived in communities with high socioeconomic status [aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.28-2.31] had increased odds of health facility delivery compared to those with low literacy levels and in communities with low socioeconomic status respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of health facility delivery among women in Madagascar is low in this study. The findings of this study call on stakeholders and the government to strengthen the healthcare system of Madagascar using the framework for universal health coverage. There is also the need to implement programmes and interventions geared towards increasing health facility delivery among adolescent girls and young women, women with no formal education, and those not exposed to media. Also, consideration should be made to provide free maternal health care and a health insurance scheme that can be accessed by women in the poorest wealth index. Health facilities should be provided at places where women have challenges with distance to other health facilities. Education on the importance of antenatal care visits should also be encouraged, especially among women with low literacy levels and in communities with low socioeconomic status.

The varying estimation of infertility in Ethiopia: the need for a comprehensive definition.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a marginalized sexual and reproductive health issue in low-resource settings. Globally, millions are affected by infertility, but the lack of a universal definition makes it difficult to estimate the prevalence of infertility at the population level. Estimating the prevalence of infertility may inform targeted and accessible intervention, especially for a resource-limited country like Ethiopia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of female infertility in Ethiopia using the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) through two approaches: (i) the demographic approach and (ii) the current duration approach. METHODS: Data from 15,683 women were obtained through the 2016 Ethiopian DHS. The demographic approach estimates infertility among women who had been married/in a union for at least five years, had never used contraceptives, and had a fertility desire. The current duration approach includes women at risk of pregnancy at the time of the survey and determines their current length of time-at-risk of pregnancy at 12, 24, and 36 months. Logistic regression analysis estimated the prevalence of infertility and factors associated using the demographic approach. Parametric survival analysis estimated the prevalence of infertility using the current duration approach. All estimates used sampling weights to account for the DHS sampling design. STATA 14 and R were used to perform the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Using the demographic definition, the prevalence of infertility was 7.6% (95% CI 6.6-8.8). When stratified as primary and secondary infertility, the prevalence was 1.4% (95% CI 1.0-1.9) and 8.7% (95% CI 7.5-10.1), respectively. Using the current duration approach definition, the prevalence of overall infertility was 24.1% (95% CI 18.8-34.0) at 12-months, 13.4% (95% CI 10.1-18.6) at 24-months, and 8.8% (95% CI 6.5-12.3) at 36-months. CONCLUSION: The demographic definition of infertility resulted in a lower estimate of infertility. The current duration approach definition could be more appropriate for the early detection and management of infertility in Ethiopia. The findings also highlight the need for a comprehensive definition of and emphasis on infertility. Future population-based surveys should incorporate direct questions related to infertility to facilitate epidemiological surveillance.

Inequality gaps in modern contraceptive use and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Nigeria between 2003 and 2018.

BACKGROUND: Inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in low-income countries remain a major public health challenge. Eliminating or reducing the inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women could accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, Targets 3.7 & 5.6. Thus, this study examined the inequality gaps in modern contraceptive use and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Nigeria between 2003 and 2018. METHODS: This study employed the World Health Organisation's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit to analyse the 2003 and 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Surveys. Modern contraceptive use was aggregated using five equity stratifiers: age, economic status, educational level, place, and region of residence among women of reproductive aged 15 to 49, with a sample size of 5,336 and 29,090 for 2003 and 2018, respectively. Inequality was measured in this study using difference (D), ratio (R), population-attributable risk (PAR), and a population-attributable fraction (PAF). RESULTS: The study shows an increase in modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Nigeria from 8.25% in 2003 to 12.01% in 2018, with the use being more prominent among women of reproductive age 20-49 and those in the richest economic quintile. In both surveys, women with primary education showed the most upward increase in modern contraceptive use. Women residing in the urban areas also show an upward use of modern contraceptives use. The study further highlights inequality gaps, with age being a substantial factor, while economic status and sub-national regions showed mild to marginal inequality gaps. Finally, the educational level of women of reproductive age in Nigeria significantly shows inequality in modern contraceptive use, with a PAF of 129.11 in 2003 and 65.39 in 2018. CONCLUSION: The inequality gap in modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Nigeria between 2003 and 2018 reported in this study includes age, education, wealth quintile, residence, and region-related inequalities. The study highlights the need for policies and programmes that target the groups with low use of modern contraceptives to promote equity in family planning services.

Female genital mutilation/cutting among girls aged 0-14: evidence from the 2018 Mali Demographic and Health Survey data.

BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is considered a social norm in many African societies, with varying prevalence among countries. Mali is one of the eight countries with very high prevalence of FGM/C in Africa. This study assessed the individual and contextual factors associated with female FGM/C among girls aged 0-14 years in Mali. METHODS: We obtained data from the 2018 Mali Demographic and Health Survey. The prevalence of FGM/C in girls was presented using percentages while a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictors of FGM/C and the results were presented using adjusted odds ratios with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The results indicate that more than half (72.7%, 95% CI = 70.4-74.8) of women in Mali with daughters had at least one daughter who has gone through circumcision. The likelihood of circumcision of girls increased with age, with women aged 45-49 having the highest odds compared to those aged 15-19 (aOR = 17.68, CI = 7.91-31.79). A higher likelihood of FGM/C in daughters was observed among women who never read newspaper/magazine (aOR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.27-3.89), compared to those who read newspaper/magazine at least once a week. Compared to women who are not circumcised, those who had been circumcised were more likely to have their daughters circumcised (aOR = 53.98, 95% CI = 24.91-117.00). CONCLUSION: The study revealed the age of mothers, frequency of reading newspaper/magazine, and circumcision status of mothers, as factors associated with circumcision of girls aged 0-14 in Mali. It is, therefore, imperative for existing interventions and new ones to focus on these factors in order to reduce FGM/C in Mali. This will help Mali to contribute to the global efforts of eliminating all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

Measuring breastfeeding prevalence using demographic and health surveys.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the measurement of breastfeeding prevalence indicators using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data, focusing on early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and continued breastfeeding indicators as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and on the discrepancies arising from small changes in their definition. METHODS: Two hundred sixty DHS samples from 78 countries were analyzed to re-calculate usual indicators reported by WHO and UNICEF: early initiation of breastfeeding (EIB), exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months (EBF), and continued breastfeeding between 1 and 2 years (CBF12 and CBF24). Additionally, alternative estimates of the same indicators, slightly changing their definition, were calculated to test their robustness. RESULTS: The WHO and UNICEF indicators for early initiation (EIB) primarily capture cases where breastfeeding is initiated "immediately" after birth, omitting those initiated within 0 or 1 hour. This discrepancy leads to substantial underestimation of levels in some regions, particularly South Asia, and in trends. Furthermore, sizable discrepancies between exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) indicators arise from the inclusion or exclusion of plain water in the definition, with significant variations across regions, especially in West and Middle Africa. However, continued breastfeeding indicators showed consistency across definitions, proving them robust for international comparisons and time trend estimations. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of understanding how breastfeeding indicators are defined and calculated using DHS data. Researchers should be cautious when using WHO and UNICEF indicators for early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, as they may underestimate prevalence due to their narrow definition. Continued breastfeeding indicators, on the other hand, are less affected by small changes in definitions and provide reliable measures for cross-country comparisons and trend analyses. These findings underscore the need for standardized robust definitions and transparent reporting of breastfeeding indicators in global health assessments.

Cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Kenya: further analysis of Kenyan demographic and health survey 2022.

INTRODUCTION: Although cervical cancer screening is one of the most effective strategies to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, the percentage of cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income counties is low. In Kenya, the current nationwide prevalence and associated factors for the detection of cervical cancer is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors for the detection of cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Kenya using the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey 2022. METHODS: This study used the most recent Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey data (2022) with a total weighted sample of 16,901 women. A mixed effects logistic regression analysis was performed and in the multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The strength of the association was evaluated using adjusted odds ratios along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The prevalence of cervical cancer screening in Kenya was 16.81%(95% CI: 16.24, 17.38%). Having a history of abortion (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.171.50, 1.43), using modern contraceptive methods (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.95), media exposure (AOR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.65), primary education (AOR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.09, 2.22), secondary education (AOR = 21.99, 95% CI: 1.1.38, 2.87), higher education (AOR = 2..50, 95% CI: 1.71, 3.65), visiting health facility within the past 12 months (AOR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.46, 1.79), positive HIV status (AOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 2.69, 4.57), being from a community with a higher proportion of educated individuals (AOR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.13, 1.65) and being from a community with high proportion of poor individuals (AOR = 0.72, 9 5%CI: 0.60-0.87)) were significantly associated with cervical cancer screening. CONCLUSION: In Kenya, the prevalence of cervical cancer screening was found to be low. A history of abortion, use of modern contraceptives, exposure to the media, visits to health facilities in the past 12 months, HIV status, level of education, community educational level, and community wealth were identified as significant associated factors for cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is recommended to implement targeted public health interventions that focus on these identified factors to improve the adoption of cervical cancer screening in Kenya.

Unravelling factors influencing demand for modern contraception and evaluating coverage progress since 2015 in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria: insights from multilevel and geostatistical modelling.

INTRODUCTION: The United Nations established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 to enhance global development. In this study, we examine an SDG indicator: the percentage of women aged 15-49 whose family planning needs are met by modern contraception (mDFPS). We evaluate both the factors influencing its coverage and its progress since 2015. METHODS: We used nationally representative surveys data (Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA)) from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria. We assessed predictors of mDFPS. We also computed mDFPS coverage across countries and subnational areas, assessing coverage changes from the SDGs onset to the most recent period, using a Bayesian model-based geostatistical approach. We assessed whether the subnational areas exceeded the minimum recommended WHO mDFPS coverage of 75%. RESULTS: Varied individual and community-level determinants emerged, highlighting the countries' uniqueness. Factors such as being part of a female-headed household, and low household wealth, lowered the odds of mDFPS, while rural-residence had low odds only in Ethiopia and Nigeria. The results indicate mDFPS stagnation in most administrative areas across the three countries. Geographic disparities persisted over time, favouring affluent regions. The predicted posterior proportion of mDFPS and exceedance probability (EP) for WHO target for Ethiopia was 39.85% (95% CI: [4.51, 83.01], EP = 0.08) in 2016 and 46.28% (95% CI: [7.15, 85.99], EP = 0.13) in 2019. In Kenya, the adjusted predicted proportion for 2014 was 30.19% (95% CI: [2.59, 80.24], EP = 0.06) and 44.16% (95%CI: [9.35, 80.24], EP = 0.13) in 2022. In Nigeria, the predicted posterior proportion of mDFPS was 17.91% (95% CI: [1.24, 61.29], EP = 0.00) in 2013, and it was 23.08% (95% CI: [1.80, 56.24], EP = 0.00) in 2018. None of the sub-national areas in Ethiopia and Nigeria exceeded the WHO target. While 9 out of 47 counties in Kenya in 2022 exceeded the WHO mDFPS target. CONCLUSION: The study unveils demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic mDFPS disparities, signalling progress and stagnation across administrative areas. The findings offer policymakers and governments insights into targeting interventions for enhanced mDFPS coverage. Context-specific strategies can address local needs, aiding SDG attainment.

Bottle-feeding practice and its associated factors among mothers of children aged 0 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-level analysis of demographic and health surveys (2015-2022).

BACKGROUND: Avoidance of bottle feeding is recommended as it interferes with optimal suckling behavior, is difficult to keep clean, and is an important route for the transmission of pathogens. However, there is a current shift towards breastfeeding for a short period and the introduction of bottle feeding in both the developed and developing worlds. Bottle-feeding practice and its individual- and community-level determinants are not addressed in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap and assess the pooled prevalence and associated factors of bottle feeding among mothers of children less than 23 months of age. METHODS: Data from the recent demographic and health surveys of 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2015 and 2022 were used. A total weighted sample of 86,619 mother-child pairs was included in the current study. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Intra-class correlation coefficient, likelihood ratio test, median odds ratio, and deviance (-2LLR) values were used for model comparison and fitness. Finally, variables with a p-value < 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall pooled prevalence of bottle feeding among mothers of children aged 0 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa was 13.74% (95% CI: 13.51%, 13.97%). Factors like maternal age [AOR = 1.09; 95% CI (1.04, 1.14)], educational status [AOR = 2.83; 95% CI (2.58, 3.10)], marital status [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI (1.09, 1.24)], maternal occupation [AOR = 0.76; 95% CI (0.73, 0.79)], media exposure [AOR = 0.80; 95% CI (0.76, 0.85)], wealth index [AOR = 1.21; 95% CI (1.15, 1.29)], sex of the household head [AOR = 1.17; 95% CI (1.12, 1.24)], family size [AOR = 1.06; 95% CI (1.01, 1.12)], number of under-five children [AOR = 1.11; 95% CI (1.04, 1.19)], place of delivery [AOR = 1.06; 95% CI (1.00, 1.12)], mode of delivery [AOR = 1.41; 95% CI (1.31, 1.52)], counseling on breastfeeding [AOR = 0.88; 95% CI (0.84, 0.92)], age of the child [AOR = 1.65; 95% CI (1.57, 1.75)], and residence [AOR = 1.64; 95% CI (1.56, 1.72)] were significantly associated with bottle-feeding practices. CONCLUSION: Nearly one out of seven children aged 0 to 23 months received bottle feeding in sub-Saharan African countries. Older mothers, higher mothers' educational status, unmarried women, richest families, non-working mothers, exposed to media, female-headed households, large family size, having one under-five children, home delivery, cesarean delivery, children aged 6-11 months, and urban residence were significantly associated with an increased risk of bottle feeding. Breastfeeding promotion programs are advised to target mothers who are older, educated, working, rich, gave birth at home, have a large family size, are delivered by cesarean section, have children aged 6-11 months, and reside in urban areas to achieve a significant decrease in bottle feeding rates in sub-Saharan Africa.

Minimum milk feeding frequency and its associated factors among non-breastfed children aged 6-23 months in sub-saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of the recent demographic and health survey data.

BACKGROUND: Poor infant and child feeding practices, in combination with increased rates of infectious diseases, are the main immediate causes of malnutrition during the first two years of life. Non-breastfed children require milk and other dairy products, as they are rich sources of calcium and other nutrients. As far as our search is concerned, there is no evidence on the pooled magnitude and determinants of minimum milk feeding frequency among non-breastfed children in sub-Saharan Africa conducted using the most recent indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices published in 2021. Therefore, this study is intended to determine the magnitude and associated factors of minimum milk feeding frequency among non-breastfed children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa using the most recent guideline and demographic and health survey dataset. METHODS: Data from the most recent health and demographic surveys, which were carried out between 2015 and 2022 in 20 sub-Saharan African countries, were used. The study comprised a weighted sample consisting of 13,315 non-breastfed children between the ages of 6 and 23 months. STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software was used to clean, recode, and analyze data that had been taken from DHS data sets. Utilizing multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression, the factors associated with the outcome variable were identified. Model comparison and fitness were assessed using deviance (-2LLR), likelihood ratio test, median odds ratio, and intra-class correlation coefficient. Finally, variables with a p-value < 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. RESULTS: The pooled magnitude of minimum milk feeding frequency among non-breastfed children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan African countries was 12.39% (95% CI: 11.85%, 12.97%). Factors like maternal educational level [AOR = 1.61; 95% CI (1.35, 1.91)], marital status of the mother [AOR = 0.77; 95% CI (0.67, 0.89)], maternal working status [AOR = 0.80; 95% CI (0.71, 0.91)], media exposure [AOR = 1.50; 95% CI (1.27, 1.77)], wealth index [AOR = 1.21; 95% CI (1.03, 1.42)], place of delivery [AOR = 1.45; 95% CI (1.22, 1.72)], ANC visit attended during pregnancy [AOR = 0.49; 95% CI (0.39, 0.62)], PNC checkup [AOR = 1.57; 95% CI (1.40, 1.76)], child's age [AOR = 0.70; 95% CI (0.53, 0.93)], and residence [AOR = 2.15; 95% CI (1.87, 2.46)] were significantly associated with minimum milk feeding frequency. CONCLUSIONS: In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of minimum milk feeding frequency among non-breastfed children aged between 6 and 23 months was low. The likelihood of minimum milk feeding frequency increases with high levels of education, unemployment, media exposure, rich wealth status, being unmarried, having a child born in a health facility, getting PNC checks, being between 6 and 8 months old, and living in an urban area. Hence, promoting women's education, increasing the economic status of the household, disseminating nutrition information through media, strengthening maternal health service utilization like health facility delivery and PNC services, and giving prior attention to mothers with older children and from rural areas are strongly recommended.

Animal source food consumption and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan African countries: a multilevel analysis of demographic and health survey.

INTRODUCTION: Child undernutrition is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Children who eat animal-based foods have higher intakes of various nutrients that are important for optimal linear growth. However, the prevalence of animal-source food consumption was low across many countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of good consumption of animal-source foods and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: A cross-sectional pooled dataset using recent demographic and health surveys from 19 sub-Saharan African countries was employed. A total weighted sample of 65,742 children aged 6 to 23 months was included in the study. Data extracted from the recent DHS data sets were cleaned, recorded, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software. Descriptive analysis was carried out to present both individual and community-level variables using frequencies and percentages. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Finally, variables with a p-value less than 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. RESULTS: In this study, 43.1% (95% CI: 42.7-43.5%) of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed animal-source foods. Factors like maternal education [AOR = 1.36; 95% CI (1.28, 1.44)], maternal occupation [AOR = 1.24; 95% CI (1.18, 1.31)], exposure to media [AOR = 1.30; 95% CI (1.24, 1.36)], wealth index [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI (1.10, 1.23)] & [AOR = 1.28; 95% CI (1.21, 1.36)], owned a mobile telephone [AOR = 1.23; 95% CI (1.17, 1.29)], ANC visits [AOR = 1.20; 95% CI (1.15, 1.25)], place of delivery [AOR = 1.09; 95% CI (1.04, 1.14)], PNC checkup [AOR = 1.34; 95% CI (1.28, 1.39)], the current age of the child [AOR = 1.99; 95% CI (1.85, 2.14)], [AOR = 3.34; 95% CI (3.14, 3.56)], & [AOR = 4.3; 95% CI (4.10, 4.66)], birth interval [AOR = 0.92; 95% CI (0.87, 0.97)], residence [AOR = 1.43; 95% CI (1.35, 1.50)], community illiteracy [AOR = 0.91; 95% CI (0.86, 0.96)], and community poverty [AOR = 1.07; 95% CI (1.01, 1.14)] were significantly associated with consumption of animal-source foods. CONCLUSION: Less than half of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed any type of animal-source foods in sub-Saharan African countries. Higher educational level, non-agricultural work, exposure to media, high economic status, having a mobile telephone, attending 4 + ANC visits, health facility delivery, PNC checkups, older children, a birth interval of 24 months, urban residency, community literacy, and low community poverty were determinates of good consumption of animal source foods. Women empowerment, dissemination of nutrition-related information through mass media, promotion of health facility delivery, and improving utilization of maternal health services are recommended to improve infant and child feeding practices.

Unhealthy food consumption and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of the demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy food consumption that begins early in life is associated with a higher risk of nutrient inadequacy and related chronic diseases later in life. Healthy eating and consumption of important nutrients help to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions. Research from sub-Saharan Africa regarding consumption of unhealthy foods remains limited, with no studies quantifying the pooled prevalence among young children. Therefore, this study is intended to assess the pooled prevalence and determinants of unhealthy food consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months. METHODS: Data from the most recent demographic and health surveys of five countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2015 and 2022 were used. A total weighted sample of 16,226 children aged 6 to 23 months was included in the study. Data extracted from DHS data sets were cleaned, recorded, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the dependent variable. Intra-class correlation coefficient, likelihood ratio test, median odds ratio, and deviance (-2LLR) values were used for model comparison and fitness. Finally, variables with a p-value < 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of unhealthy food consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months was 13.41% (95% CI: 12.89-13.94%). Higher consumption of unhealthy foods was reported among mothers with low education [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.30, 0.46)], unmarried women [AOR = 1.19; 95% CI (1.05, 1.34)], who had no media exposure [AOR = 0.64; 95% CI (0.56, 0.72)], delivered at home [AOR = 0.74; 95% CI (0.62, 0.87)], who hadn't had a PNC checkup [AOR = 0.66; 95% CI (0.60, 0.73)], wealthier households [AOR = 1.20; 95% CI (1.05, 1.37)], older children (aged ≥ 9 months) [AOR = 3.88; 95% CI (3.25, 4.63)], and low community level media exposure [AOR = 1.18; 95% CI (1.04, 1.34)]. CONCLUSION: Nearly one out of seven children aged 6 to 23 months consumed unhealthy foods. Maternal educational level, marital status of the mother, exposure to media, wealth index, place of delivery, PNC checkup, and the current age of the child were factors significantly associated with unhealthy food consumption. Therefore, improving women's education, disseminating nutrition-related information through the media, providing more attention to poor and unmarried women, and strengthening health facility delivery and postnatal care services are recommended.

Tanzania's and Germany's Digital Health Strategies and Their Consistency With the World Health Organization's Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025: Comparative Policy Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the fast-paced adoption of digital health (DH) technologies has transformed health care delivery. However, this rapid evolution has also led to challenges such as uncoordinated development and information silos, impeding effective health care integration. Recognizing these challenges, nations have developed digital health strategies (DHSs), aligning with their national health priorities and guidance from global frameworks. The World Health Organization (WHO)'s Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 (GSDH) guides national DHSs. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes the DHSs of Tanzania and Germany as case studies and assesses their alignment with the GSDH and identifies strengths, shortcomings, and areas for improvement. METHODS: A comparative policy analysis was conducted, focusing on the DHSs of Tanzania and Germany as case studies, selected for their contrasting health care systems and cooperative history. The analysis involved a three-step process: (1) assessing consistency with the GSDH, (2) comparing similarities and differences, and (3) evaluating the incorporation of emergent technologies. Primary data sources included national eHealth policy documents and related legislation. RESULTS: Both Germany's and Tanzania's DHSs align significantly with the WHO's GSDH, incorporating most of its 35 elements, but each missing 5 distinct elements. Specifically, Tanzania's DHS lacks in areas such as knowledge management and capacity building for leaders, while Germany's strategy falls short in engaging health care service providers and beneficiaries in development phases and promoting health equity. Both countries, however, excel in other aspects like collaboration, knowledge transfer, and advancing national DHSs, reflecting their commitment to enhancing DH infrastructures. The high ratings of both countries on the Global Digital Health Monitor underscore their substantial progress in DH, although challenges persist in adopting the rapidly advancing technologies and in the need for more inclusive and comprehensive strategies. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that both Tanzania and Germany have made significant strides in aligning their DHSs with the WHO's GSDH. However, the rapid evolution of technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning presents challenges in keeping strategies up-to-date. This study recommends the development of more comprehensive, inclusive strategies and regular revisions to align with emerging technologies and needs. The research underscores the importance of context-specific adaptations in DHSs and highlights the need for broader, strategic guidelines to direct the future development of the DH ecosystem. The WHO's GSDH serves as a crucial blueprint for national DHSs. This comparative analysis demonstrates the value and challenges of aligning national strategies with global guidelines. Both Tanzania and Germany offer valuable insights into developing and implementing effective DHSs, highlighting the importance of continuous adaptation and context-specific considerations. Future policy assessments require in-depth knowledge of the country's health care needs and structure, supplemented by stakeholder input for a comprehensive evaluation.

Key Considerations for Designing Clinical Studies to Evaluate Digital Health Solutions.

Evidence of clinical impact is critical to unlock the potential of digital health solutions (DHSs), yet many solutions are failing to deliver positive clinical results. We argue in this viewpoint that this failure is linked to current approaches to DHS evaluation design, which neglect numerous key characteristics (KCs) requiring specific scientific and design considerations. We first delineate the KCs of DHSs: (1) they are implemented at health care system and patient levels; (2) they are "complex" interventions; (3) they can drive multiple clinical outcomes indirectly through a multitude of smaller clinical benefits; (4) their mechanism of action can vary between individuals and change over time based on patient needs; and (5) they develop through short, iterative cycles-optimally within a real-world use context. Following our objective to drive better alignment between clinical evaluation design and the unique traits of DHSs, we then provide methodological suggestions that better address these KCs, including tips on mechanism-of-action mapping, alternative randomization methods, control-arm adaptations, and novel end-point selection, as well as innovative methods utilizing real-world data and platform research.

Intimate partner violence as a determinant of pregnancy termination among women in unions: evidence from the 2016-2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey.

There is a demonstrated link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and pregnancy termination, and this association has received much attention in developed settings. Despite the high prevalence of IPV in Papua New Guinea (PNG), little is known about the association between these experiences and pregnancy termination. This study examined the association between IPV and pregnancy termination in PNG. The present study used population-based data from the PNG's first Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2016-2018. The analysis involved women aged 15-49 years who were in intimate unions (married or co-habiting). We used binary logistic regression modelling to analyse the association between IPV and pregnancy termination. Results were reported as crude odds ratios (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, 6.3% of women involved in this study had ever terminated a pregnancy, and 6 in 10 women (61.5%) reported having experienced IPV in the last 12 months preceding the survey. Of those women who experienced IPV, 7.4% had ever terminated a pregnancy. Women who had experienced IPV had a 1.75 higher odds of reporting pregnancy termination (cOR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.29-2.37) than women who did not experience IPV. After controlling for theoretically and empirically relevant socio-demographic and economic factors, IPV remained a strong and significant determinant of pregnancy termination (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.22-2.30). The strong association between IPV and pregnancy termination among women in intimate unions in PNG calls for targeted policies and interventions that address the high prevalence of IPV. The provision of comprehensive sexual reproductive health, public education, and awareness creation on the consequences of IPV, regular assessment, and referral to appropriate services for IPV may reduce the incidence of pregnancy termination in PNG.

Is the increased use of intramedullary nailing over DHS for intertrochanteric hip fractures justified? - A review of the Irish hip fracture database 2016 -2020.

PURPOSE: Intertrochanteric hip fractures are significant and costly injuries and there remains controversy within the orthopaedic literature over the best method of fixation. The Irish Hip Fracture Database (IHFD) was established in 2012 to drive improvements in clinical outcomes and the quality of hip fracture care. This paper will review the outcomes of dynamic hip screw (DHS) versus intra-medullary nailing (IMN) in the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures in Ireland. METHODS: Eligible cases for this study include patients >60 years of age with trochanteric hip fractures treated by DHS or IMN between January 2016 and December 2020. Outcomes recorded and compared include length of stay, inpatient mortality, mobilisation on post-operative day 1 (POD 1), and discharge destination. RESULTS: 5668 hip fractures treated with DHS or IMN were identified. There was no significant difference between inpatient mortality, re-operation rate or length of stay between the two groups. Females and patients with a high ASA grade (IV and V) were more likely to receive IMN. Patients receiving DHS were more likely to be mobilised day 1 post-operatively and be discharged directly home. It was noted that the use of IMN increased from 42% of cases in 2016 to 70% in 2020. CONCLUSION: IMN use for intertrochanteric fractures continues to increase. However, patients treated with DHS were more likely to mobilise early post-operatively and to go directly home. Notwithstanding the limitations of national registry data research, the dramatic rise in the use of IMN for these fractures appears unsupported by the evidence.

Escherichia coli removal in down-flow hanging sponge reactors: insights from laboratory reactor studies.

Down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors, employed in domestic wastewater treatment, have demonstrated efficacy in eliminating Escherichia coli and other potentially pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of removal of E. coli by employing a cube-shaped polyurethane sponge carrier within a compact hanging reactor. An E. coli removal experiment was conducted on this prepared sponge. Escherichia. coli level was found to decrease by more than 2 logs after passing through five nutrient-restricted DHS sponges. Conversely, a newly introduced sponge did not exhibit a comparable reduction in E. coli level. Furthermore, under conditions of optimal nutritional status, the reduction in E. coli level was limited to 0.5 logs, underscoring the crucial role of nutrient restriction in achieving effective elimination. Analysis of the sponge-associated bacterial community revealed the presence of a type VI secretion system (T6SS), a competitive mechanism observed in bacteria. This finding suggests that T6SS might play a pivotal role in contributing to the observed decline in E. coli level.

Is intimate partner violence vertically transmitted among women in sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from demographic health surveys between 2010 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: Violence against women is a major human rights violation, and the continuous occurrence of this can have many implications for women's social and health outcomes. The experience of violence from an intimate partner could be more intriguing, especially if such women experienced their mother's intimate partner violence (IPV) issues. Thus, this study examined the vertical transmission of IPV among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: A total of 97,542 eligible women were drawn from 27 countries in SSA using a retrospective secondary dataset from Demographic Health Surveys conducted between 2010 and 2019. Multivariable analysis was employed to determine the association between the vertical transmission of IPV from mother to daughter and the covariates associated with IPV in SSA at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that 40% of the respondents had experienced lifetime IPV, whilst 25% of those women reported that their mothers experienced it in childhood in SSA. Country-specific variations showed the highest prevalence of IPV experienced in Sierra Leone (60%) and the lowest in Comoros (9%). Results from model 1 showed that women who reported that their mothers experienced IPV were found to be significantly more than two times more likely to have experienced any form of IPV compared to those whose mothers did not (aOR = 2.66; 95% CI: 2.59-2.74), after adjusting for cofounders in Model 2, the result still showed that women who reported that their mothers experienced IPV were found to be significantly more than two times more likely to have experienced any form of IPV compared to those whose mothers did not (aOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 2.48-2.63). On the other hand, women with higher-educated partners, women in rural areas, and those from female-headed households were less likely to experience IPV. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that women whose mothers experienced IPV were more likely to have experienced IPV. Our study also identified that education, rural areas, and female-headed households were protective factors against experiencing IPV. To address the groups of women at higher risk for experiencing IPV, we recommend ensuring that girls complete their education to promote greater wealth and resources.