About this Research Topic
Pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) depend on a complex web of interdependent dynamics, including socio-economic, cultural, demographic, environmental and individual biomedical factors, health care quality and health system functionality. One recent pooled analysis of ten African countries’ demographic and health survey data found that almost one in three deliveries had a sub-optimal infant outcome of stillbirth, low birthweight or macrosomia; predictors included women not having decision-making power for their own health-seeking actions, domestic violence, low education, low socioeconomic status, distance to the health facility, and multiple births These findings reinforce what has been reported by other studies across the continent.
In addition to the complex factors described, incident infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, hepatitis, and bacterial infections during pregnancy are also known to increase the risk of poor maternal and child outcomes; however, very little data exists regarding specific infections and their relative contribution to mother or infant outcomes. Across sub-Saharan Africa, the high endemic infectious disease burden is now intersecting with an emerging epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Many NCDs have infectious origins, and most cases in sub-Saharan Africa remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed late in disease progression. The impact of NCDs on pregnancy outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa is minimally documented, and even less is known about the combined effect of comorbid infectious and non-communicable diseases on maternal or infant outcomes.
Understanding the burden of comorbid infectious and non-communicable diseases in pregnancy and their associated risks to mother and infant are an important component of reducing maternal and infant mortality and improving quality of life. By understanding the burden and risks, policy-makers will be better positioned to improve health programming through the integration of new screening tools and clinical guidelines, and through rational allocation of resources.
We would like to receive original research papers, short reports, and systematic reviews of the dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases in pregnancy. Of particular interest are research findings that describe this dual burden in pregnancy, and those which discuss the health system changes required to accommodate the increasing burden of NCDs in pregnant women.
In addition to the complex factors described, incident infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, hepatitis, and bacterial infections during pregnancy are also known to increase the risk of poor maternal and child outcomes; however, very little data exists regarding specific infections and their relative contribution to mother or infant outcomes. Across sub-Saharan Africa, the high endemic infectious disease burden is now intersecting with an emerging epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Many NCDs have infectious origins, and most cases in sub-Saharan Africa remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed late in disease progression. The impact of NCDs on pregnancy outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa is minimally documented, and even less is known about the combined effect of comorbid infectious and non-communicable diseases on maternal or infant outcomes.
Understanding the burden of comorbid infectious and non-communicable diseases in pregnancy and their associated risks to mother and infant are an important component of reducing maternal and infant mortality and improving quality of life. By understanding the burden and risks, policy-makers will be better positioned to improve health programming through the integration of new screening tools and clinical guidelines, and through rational allocation of resources.
We would like to receive original research papers, short reports, and systematic reviews of the dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases in pregnancy. Of particular interest are research findings that describe this dual burden in pregnancy, and those which discuss the health system changes required to accommodate the increasing burden of NCDs in pregnant women.
Keywords: Pregnancy outcomes, Infant outcomes, Infectious diseases, Non-communicable diseases, Sub-Saharan Africa
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