Background The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan, which began on April 15, 2023, has severely impacted the nation's health care system, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and creating new public health challenges. Objective: This rapid review aims to assess the impact of this conflict on health services and evaluate the health consequences for Sudan's population. Methods A rapid review protocol guided the search and defined the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Global Health) were searched for relevant articles from April 2023 to November 2024. Articles focusing on the impact of armed conflict on health care services were included. Data extraction and narrative synthesis were used to report the findings. Results: Thirty articles met the inclusion criteria. Key findings include the closure of 70% of healthcare facilities in war-affected states, severe shortages of medical supplies, and significant disruptions in essential health services. This conflict has increased the risk of infectious diseases, malnutrition, and mental health issues. Violations of humanitarian corridors have impeded aid delivery, and the healthcare financing system is strained by reduced government contributions and rising out-of-pocket expenses. The humanitarian crisis has led to increased displacement, with over six million internally displaced persons and 1.57 million refugees in neighboring countries. Conclusion The conflict in Sudan has critically undermined the healthcare system, resulting in severe public health challenges. There is an urgent need for coordinated international intervention to strengthen health systems, ensure essential services, and address the root causes of conflict. Sustainable solutions must focus on immediate relief and long-term resilience, leveraging lessons from other conflict-affected regions to support Sudan’s healthcare recovery and reform.

Telemedicine has transformed obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to synthesize evidence on the adoption, effectiveness, barriers, and technological innovations of telemedicine in OB/GYN across diverse healthcare settings. This scoping review synthesized 63 peer-reviewed studies (2010–2023) using PRISMA-ScR guidelines to map global applications, outcomes, and challenges. Key modalities included synchronous consultations, remote monitoring, AI-assisted triage, tele-supervision, and asynchronous communication. Results demonstrated improved access to routine care and mental health support, with outcomes for low-risk pregnancies comparable to in-person services. Adoption surged >500% during pandemic peaks, stabilizing at 9–12% of services in high-income countries. However, significant disparities persisted: 43% of rural Sub-Saharan clinics lacked stable internet, while socioeconomic, linguistic, and cultural barriers disproportionately affected vulnerable populations (e.g., non-English-speaking, transgender, and refugee patients). Providers reported utility but also screen fatigue (41–68%) and diagnostic uncertainty. Critical barriers included fragmented policies, reimbursement variability, data privacy concerns, and limited evidence from conflict-affected regions. Sustainable integration requires equity-centered design, robust policy frameworks, rigorous longitudinal evaluation, and ethically validated AI to address clinical complexity and systemic gaps.

Background and Objectives: Postpartum depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth. While the epidemiology of postpartum depression has been extensively studied in African countries, there is little published data on the topic in Sudan. In addition, no studies have been conducted in Eastern Sudan. This study aims to evaluate the factors associated with postpartum depression among Sudanese women in Gadarif in Eastern Sudan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study (using the systematic random sampling technique) of women presenting to Gadarif Maternity Hospital for postnatal follow-up within six weeks of childbirth was conducted. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess postpartum depression. Results: Three hundred women were enrolled in the study. The median (interquartile) age and parity were 30.0 (25.0–34.0) years and 2 (1–4). Thirty-one (10.3%) of the women had postpartum depression. A univariate analysis showed that a past history of depression was the only factor associated with postpartum depression (OR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.03–8.97). Other investigated factors (age, parity, educational level, occupation, history of previous miscarriage or intrauterine fetal death, a family history of depression, financial support, medical insurance, whether the pregnancy was planned or not, and if the gender of the newborn was known before delivery) were not associated with postpartum depression. Conclusions: The current study showed that 1 out of 10 women had postpartum depression that was associated with a past history of depression. Factors that have been reported to be associated with postpartum depression in African countries (age, parity, education, and occupation) were not found to be associated in this study. Mental health assessment needs to be employed for women in their antenatal and postpartum periods.

Placenta previa is a major obstetric problem with high rates of fetomaternal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and fetal and maternal outcomes of major degree placenta previa among Sudanese women. This is a prospective descriptive study conducted in the period from January 1 to June 30, 2109, at Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Fetal and maternal complications associated with major degree placenta were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The total number of deliveries was 22,000, of which 87 cases were of major degree placenta previa, giving a prevalence rate of 0.4%, the hysterectomies rate was 23% (n= 20), and the total maternal deaths were 6.9% (n= 6). Intraoperative interventions used to control the bleeding were multiple hemostatic sutures in 34.5% (n=30) of cases, followed by uterine backing (20.7%; n= 18), and uterine artery ligation (12.6%; n=11). The common reported maternal complications were bladder injuries (28.7%; n= 25) followed by bowel injuries (4.6%; n=5). Of all mothers, 48.27% (n=42) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Of all deliveries, 26.4% (n=23) were preterm, and 38% (n=33) of neonates were admitted to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), and 9.2% (n=8) were fresh stillbirth (FSB). Neonatal complications were comparable to other studies but maternal deaths were relatively high. The study indicated the need for effective management protocols and more training of the medical staff in order to overcome the problem.

Background: The maternal microbiome represents the first microbial environment for the developing infant, with emerging evidence linking maternal dysbiosis to adverse pregnancy outcomes and lifelong offspring health. Aims: This review synthesizes evidence on the maternal-infant microbial continuum, examining microbial dynamics during pregnancy, vertical transmission pathways, infant microbiome trajectories, and intervention strategies. Key Findings: Dynamic changes in maternal gut, vaginal, and oral microbiomes during pregnancy influence fetal development through mechanisms including hormonal modulation (e.g., Clostridium innocuum-mediated 17β-estradiol degradation), immune programming via short-chain fatty acids, and barrier integrity maintenance. Delivery mode exerts persistent effects, with Cesarean-section associated with higher allergy risk (OR=1.5-2.2), while probiotic supplementation may mitigate this risk (RR=0.6-0.8). Conclusion: The maternal-infant microbiome continuum represents a critical therapeutic target. Standardized longitudinal research and personalized intervention strategies are urgently needed to translate mechanistic insights into clinical practice.

Background/Objectives: Ebola virus disease (EVD) during pregnancy is associated with severe maternal illness and exceptionally poor fetal and neonatal outcomes. However, pregnancy-specific evidence remains limited by small cohorts, heterogeneous outbreak settings, and the historical exclusion of pregnant women from clinical research. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes, placental involvement and vertical transmission, clinical management, and vaccination during pregnancy. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from inception through May 2026 using predefined terms related to EVD, pregnancy, maternal and neonatal outcomes, placental infection, vertical transmission, and vaccination. WHO and CDC guidance documents and reference lists of relevant publications were also reviewed. Two reviewers independently screened records and assessed full texts. Data was extracted using a standardized template and independently verified by a second reviewer. A total of 55 publications met the inclusion criteria and were narratively synthesized. Results: Historical reports documented very high maternal mortality and pregnancy loss; however, more recent studies do not indicate that pregnancy independently increases maternal mortality among patients with EVD. A systematic review and meta-analysis estimated maternal mortality at 67.8% (95% CI 49.8–83.7), fetal loss at 76.9% (95% CI 45.0–98.3), and neonatal mortality at 98.5% (95% CI 84.9–100). Contemporary data from the 2018–2020 Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreak similarly found no increased maternal mortality associated with pregnancy, although fetal and perinatal outcomes remained poor. Evidence supports placental involvement in EVD, but placental viral RNA detection should be distinguished from confirmed fetal or neonatal infection. Pregnancy-specific vaccine evidence now includes a Phase 3 trial of Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo in 2013 pregnant women, demonstrating favorable safety and immunogenicity profiles. Conclusions: EVD in pregnancy remains associated with substantial pregnancy loss and neonatal mortality despite improvements in maternal care. Important gaps persist regarding maternal–fetal transmission, long-term infant outcomes, and optimal management strategies, highlighting the need for further research.