Research Unit: Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH)

Promoting holistic health and wellbeing of pregnant and parenting adolescents and their children in Africa – A life course model

In Kenya, as in many sub-Saharan African countries, early childbearing has detrimental effects on the health and social and economic well-being of girls and women. Despite the profound impact of adolescent childbearing
on girls’ education, health, and social well-being, there are relatively few studies that have rigorously tested interventions that support the health and social well-being of adolescent mothers and their children.

To inform the design of a multi-component intervention targeting adolescent mothers, we conducted a feasibility study to assess whether a life skills training intervention developed for use in Malawi and Burkina Faso was acceptable and appropriate for use among adolescent mothers in Korogocho, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. […]

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Pay for a free service, access to cesarean section in the slums of Dakar

In sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring equitable access to cesarean sections remains a significant challenge in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, especially among disadvantaged populations. The situation is even more severe in slums, where financial barriers often prevent women from accessing costly healthcare services like cesareans. This paper examines access to emergency cesarean services for women living in the slums of Dakar, within the framework of Senegal’s free cesarean policy introduced in 2005. […]

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