To assess the effect of emergency transportation interventions on the outcome of labor and delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Eleven databases were searched through December 2019: Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, EBSCO (PsycINFO and CINAHL), SCIELO, LILACS, JSTOR, POPLINE, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Specialized Register, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Nine studies (three in Asia and six in Africa) were included: one cluster randomized controlled trial, three controlled before-and-after (CBA) studies, four uncontrolled before and after studies, and one case-control study. The means of emergency obstetric transportation evaluated by the studies included bicycle (n = 1) or motorcycle ambulances (n = 3), 4-wheel drive vehicles (n = 3), and formal motor-vehicle ambulances (n = 2). Transportation support was offered within multi-component interventions including financial incentives (n = 1), improved communication (n = 7), and community mobilization (n = 2). Two controlled before-and-after studies that implemented interventions including financial support, three-wheeled motorcycles, and use of mobile phones reported reduction of maternal mortality. One cluster-randomized study which involved community mobilization and strengthening of referral, and transportation, and one controlled before-and-after that implemented free-of-charge, 24-hour, 4 × 4 wheel ambulance and a mobile phone showed reductions in stillbirth, perinatal, and neonatal mortality. Six studies reported increases in facility delivery ranging from 12–50%, and one study showed a 19% reduction in home delivery. There was a significant increase of caesarian sections in two studies; use of motorcycle ambulances compared to car ambulance resulted in reduction in referral delay by 2 to 4.5 hours. Only three included studies had low risk of bias on all domains. Integrating emergency obstetric transportation with complimentary maternal health interventions may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and increase access to skilled obstetric services for women in LMICs. The strength of evidence is limited by the paucity of high-quality studies.

Given the burgeoning prevalence of Type-2 Diabetes (T2D) in Benin and other sub-Saharan countries, tailored diabetes self-management interventions are urgently needed. Human-centered designs can be useful for identifying beneficiaries’ needs while keeping in mind feasibility and viability in a given context. Therefore, this study examined the acceptability and community perceptions of a self-directed lifestyle program for T2D patients in Cotonou, southern Benin. Data were collected using focus group discussions (FDGs) with T2D patients (n = 3; 32 participants), academic partners (n = 2; 16 participants), and community partners (n = 2; 12 participants). All FDG sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed from French into English verbatim, and analyzed using MAXQDA 2020. Most participants found the program to be useful and feasible. However, they preferred pictorial brochures as training materials and suggested community health workers as facilitators, assisted by clinicians or dietitians. They recommended community-based delivery mechanisms and mobile applications like WhatsApp to enhance patient adherence. Participants’ characteristics, tangible health benefits, incentives, and simple curriculums were cited as critical to program feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability. This study provides a deeper understanding of potential diabetes self-management participants’ needs and concerns. Moreover, it highlights the need to consider key stakeholders’ needs and voices for effective intervention.

Introduction and objective Maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) is a public health concern in the USA, with Native American women experiencing higher rates than non-Hispanic White women. Research on risk factors for MMM among Native American women is limited. This systematic review comprehensively synthesizes and critically appraises the literature on risk factors for MMM experienced by Native American women. Methods and analysis A systematic search was conducted on 10 October 2022 in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus for articles published since 2012. Selection criteria included observational studies set in the USA, involving Native American women in the perinatal period, and examining the relationship between risk factors and MMM outcomes. Three reviewers screened and extracted data from the included studies, with risk of bias assessed using the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tools. Data were analysed descriptively. Results 15 studies were included. All studies used administrative databases, with settings, including nationwide (seven studies), statewide (four studies) and Indian reservations (four studies). The majority of studies focused on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (eight studies) and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) (four studies). 26 risk factors were identified. Key risk factors included Native American race (six studies), rural maternal residency (four studies), overweight/obese body mass index (two studies), maternal age (two studies), nulliparity (two studies) and pre-existing medical conditions (one study). Conclusion This review identified risk factors associated with MMM among Native American women, including rural residency, overweight or obesity and advanced maternal age. However, the findings also reveal a scarcity of research specific to this population, limiting the ability to fully understand these risk factors and develop effective interventions. These results emphasise the need for further research and culturally relevant studies to inform public health and address disparities for Native American women, particularly those in rural areas. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022363405.

This study evaluated a pharmacist-led telephonic Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program for rural patients in Arizona with poor access to healthcare services. A pharmacist provided telephonic MTM services to eligible adult patients living in rural Arizona communities with a diagnosis of diabetes and/or hypertension. Data were collected and summarized descriptively for demographic and health conditions, clinical values, and medication-related problems (MRPs) at the initial consultation, and follow-up data collected at 1 and 3 months. A total of 33 patients had baseline and one-month follow-up data, while 15 patients also had three-month follow-up data. At the initial consultation, the following MRPs were identified: medication adherence issues, dose-related concerns, adverse drug events (ADE), high-risk medications, and therapeutic duplications. Recommendations were made for patients to have the influenza, herpes zoster, and pneumonia vaccines; and to initiate a statin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, and/or rescue inhaler. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that while pharmacists can identify and make clinical recommendations to patients, the value of these interventions is not fully realized due to recommendations not being implemented and difficulties with patient follow-up, which may have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional efforts to address these shortcomings are therefore required.

Introduction Optimal adherence to recommended diets is crucial to achieving long-term glycaemic control among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) individuals. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that target dietary adherence through social networks. Since social networks can influence individuals’ health behaviours, it is important to thoroughly evaluate the impact of social network interventions on dietary adherence in adults with T2D. This systematic review protocol aimed to provide insights into future interventions and improve diabetes management strategies. Method and analysis PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses and Google Scholar will be searched from inception to December 2023 for relevant randomised and non-randomised controlled trials of at least 3 months’ duration. In addition, studies that compared interventions involving the social networks (families, friends and peers) of adults with T2D with usual care, no intervention or an intervention with no explicit social network component will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen search outputs according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, critically evaluate the selected literature and extract data on the study setting, design, participants’ characteristics, interventions, controls, social network functions and duration of follow-up, using a standard data extraction form. Quantitative data analysis will be performed where studies are homogeneous in characteristics and provide adequate outcome data for meta-analysis. Otherwise, data will be synthesised using narrative synthesis. Finally, trials will be assessed for bias risk and overall evidence certainty using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for literature-based studies. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. PROSPERO registration number CRD42023441223.