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Background Caesarean section (CS) rates in women experiencing stillbirth have not been studied with nationally representative data. Two Ghana Maternal Health Surveys (GMHS) have captured pregnancy and mode of birth data for all women including those with stillbirths. We compared CS rates between women with live births and stillbirths, and identified socio-economic and pregnancy-related factors associated with CS in stillbirths. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a pooled sample of 17 138 women who had given birth within 5 years preceding the 2007 and 2017 GMHS. CS rates were compared between women with stillbirths and very early neonatal deaths (SBVENDs) and women with live births who survived the first day. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions explored variables associated with CS. Effect modification of household's wealth and maternal educational level by birth outcome was assessed using multivariable logistic regression with interaction terms. Results CS rate in women with SBVEND was 19.3% compared with 9.6% in women with live births who survived the first day (rate ratio 2.2; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.9). In multivariable analysis, attaining middle school compared with no formal education (adjusted OR, aOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 7.1), having had five or more births compared with nulliparity (aOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 10.7) and reporting prolonged or obstructed labour (aOR 3.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 8.3) were associated with CS in women with SBVEND. Higher household wealth and educational levels were associated with an increased risk of CS in both study groups, with no statistically significant difference in effect. Conclusion Disaggregating CS rates by birth outcome revealed a high rate among women with SBVEND, twice the overall rate compared with live births. Exclusion of these 'hidden' CSs from rate calculations may lead to underestimation of (inter)national CS rates and potentially conceals CS overuse or misuse.

Additional file 5. Sensitivity analyses applying the original WHO-MCS-A severity classification.

Additional file 4. Facility-based near-miss ratio, mortality ratio and mortality index.

Additional file 3. WHO-MCS-A and adapted WHO-MCS-A severity classification.

Additional file 2. Additional information on the methodology of the prospective medical record review.

This report describes adaptations madeto the provision of maternal and newborn care in the Uruguayan healthcare system during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It relies on data collected from 180 perinatal healthcare providers between March and July 2020 through a global online survey.&nbsp

BackgroundMany young women experience important key life transitions during adolescence and early adulthood, such as initiation of sexual activity, first use of contraceptives, marriage, and childbirth. For young women to be able to plan and manage their lives, it is critical to understand how these life events intersect and shape their contraceptive decision-making. This study aims to explore young women's contraceptive method use trajectories, including the factors that influence contraceptive decision-making throughout adolescence and youth.MethodologyIn 2019, the Full Access, Full Choice project (FAFC), implemented by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the African Institute for Development Policy, conducted 30 in-depth interviews with young women aged 18–24 years in three counties in Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa and Migori). Eligible respondents had used two or more modern contraceptive methods. Interview guides utilized a modified life history approach to capture details about respondents' contraceptive use and life experiences from the time they first used contraception until the time of interview.ResultsWe identified five separate contraceptive use trajectories based on the occurrence and timing of marriage, childbirth, and contraceptive method choice as well as various influences on contraceptive decision-making. The majority of respondents began their contraceptive journey by using male condoms or emergency contraception, but subsequent contraceptive decisions were varied across trajectories and influenced by different factors. For many women, the initiation of a non-coitally dependent method occurred after the birth of a child; for some, this was the first method used. Once women transitioned to using a non-coitally dependent method such as injectables or implants, many cycled through different methods to find one that had fewer side effects or provided the desired duration of protection.DiscussionThis study highlights the nuanced needs of young women throughout their adolescent and youth years in Kenya. This suggests that programs and policies need to encompass young women's diversity of experiences and motivations to best serve them.

INTRODUCTION: Despite a strong evidence base for developing interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity related to pregnancy and delivery, major knowledge-implementation gaps remain. The Action Leveraging Evidence to Reduce perinatal morTality and morbidity (ALERT) in sub-Saharan Africa project aims to overcome these gaps through strengthening the capacity of multidisciplinary teams that provide maternity care. The intervention includes competency-based midwife training, community engagement for study design, mentoring and quality improvement cycles. The realist process evaluation of ALERT aims at identifying and testing the causal pathway through which the intervention achieves its impact. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This realist process evaluation complements the effectiveness evaluation and the economic evaluation of the ALERT intervention. Following the realist evaluation cycle, we will first elicit the initial programme theory on the basis of the ALERT theory of change, a review of the evidence on adoption and diffusion of innovations and the perspectives of the stakeholders. Second, we will use a multiple embedded case study design to empirically test the initial programme theory in two hospitals in each of the four intervention countries. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected, using in-depth interviews with hospital staff and mothers, observations, patient exit interviews and (hospital) document reviews. Analysis will be guided by the Intervention-Actors-Context-Mechanism-Outcome configuration heuristic. We will use thematic coding to analyse the qualitative data. The quantitative data will be analysed descriptively and integrated in the analysis using a retroductive approach. Each case study will end with a refined programme theory (in-case analysis). Third, we will carry out a cross-case comparison within and between the four countries. Comparison between study countries should enable identifying relevant context factors that influence effectiveness and implementation, leading to a mid-range theory that may inform the scaling up the intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: In developing this protocol, we paid specific attention to cultural sensitivity, the do no harm principle, confidentiality and non-attribution. We received ethical approval from the local and national institutional review boards in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Benin, Sweden and Belgium. Written or verbal consent of respondents will be secured after explaining the purpose, potential benefits and potential harms of the study using an information sheet. The results will be disseminated through workshops with the hospital staff and national policymakers, and scientific publications and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR202006793783148.

Saharan Africa (SSA) contributes 29% of the global unsafe abortions with 62% of abortion-related deaths. This is due to restrictive abortion laws, low quality post abortion care (PAC) and inadequate access to effective modern contraception. The overall objective was to review current literature on PAC in SSA and make recommendations for improvement especially in Cameroon. A literature review was conducted on PAC in SSA published during 2000-2018. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, POPLINE, COCHRANE Library, African Index Medicus and GOOGLE Scholar. Thirty articles were reviewed from 16 countries ranging from observational studies to systematic reviews with meta-analysis. Major outcomes: 1) Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and misoprostol are equally safe and effective. 2) There is comparable effectiveness between physicians and trained mid-level cadres in PAC management. 3) PAC contraception uptake was increased when offered immediately before patient leaves the facility. 4) Gaps to PAC service use include inadequate access, low quality care and less adolescent-friendly environment. Task shifting of PAC to trained mid-level staff, decentralization of medical PAC using misoprostol, offering post abortion counselling and contraception to clients before leaving the health facility, encouraging linkage and provider-community partnership in PAC and reinforcement of advocacy for less restrictive abortion laws in Cameroon are recommended.

Additional file 2. Description of different ML algorithms.

Additional file 3. Distribution of respondents across countries.

Additional file 1. Complete list of features used in the models.

Additional file 1. Sensitivity analyses with breastfeeding women 0–5 months postpartum.