African journal of reproductive health
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Afr J Reprod Health · Dec 2018
ReviewThe Use of Soluble FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 1/Placental Growth Factor Ratio in the Clinical Management of Pre-eclampsia.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in particular the category preeclampsia (PE), remains a major cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Angiogenic growth factors (PlGF and VEGF) and their tyrosine kinase receptors -1 and 2 (Flt-1 and KDR) are involved in both fetal and placental development. ⋯ The recent prognostic value of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio has received considerable attention as a risk indicator of preeclampsia development. The aim of this review is to highlight the current advances in the diagnostic utility of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio with regards to preeclampsia development.
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Afr J Reprod Health · Sep 2016
ReviewReligion and Labour Force Participation in Nigeria: Is there any Inequality among Women?
This paper provides answers to the question on the effects of religion on female labour force participation in Nigeria, using trend analysis from three Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and secondary data. The study reveals that female labour force participation in Nigeria increased from 39.3% in 1990 to 48.1% in 2011. ⋯ Engaging in unpaid work was significant with other Christian and Muslim women in all the three data sets even with the adjusted models except in 2013 alone for Catholic women. We conclude that increase in female labour force participation will emancipate women from the trap of poverty and give them a voice in decision making in Nigeria.
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Afr J Reprod Health · Jun 2011
ReviewThe importance for the MDG4 and MDG5 of addressing reproductive health issues during the second decade of life: review and analysis from times series data of 51 African countries.
Addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues are central to efforts for reducing childhood and maternal mortality embedded in MDG4 and MDG5. This paper reviews these issues in Africa and uses statistical methods for measuring changes to analyze recent and comparable time series data from 51 African countries. ⋯ Six African countries are likely to achieve the MGD4 and five are likely to reach the target for the MDG5; the majority of sub-Saharan African countries will fall short of achieving these goals, not even by 2100 for many at current rates of change in progress indicators. Implementing ground-breaking nationally owned mortality-reduction schemes covering preconceptional and interconceptional periods and well-functioning comprehensive health-care system secured by sustained commitments and financial investments in health and social services are urgently needed, in order to repeal trends of further undoing successes achieved so far or slowing recent progress, thus hastening the pace of child and maternal mortality decline.
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Afr J Reprod Health · Aug 2004
ReviewAntenatal HIV screening and treatment in South Africa: social norms and policy options.
South Africa has one of the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the world, with mother-to-child transmission being an important route for spread of the infection. For years, AIDS scientists and activists locally and internationally have been working desperately for the people of South Africa to have access to treatment for HIV and AIDS. ⋯ The social fabric of South African society is markedly different from that of Western countries. In this paper, the author analyses the likely implications of antenatal testing and treatment of pregnant women in South Africa, in light of the socio-economic and cultural status of women in that society.