Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37309003›Full record

ArticleReproductive health2023

Cultural considerations and beliefs surrounding preterm birth in Kenya and South Africa.

Cecilia Milford, Emma Smith, Kenneth Ngure, Nicholas B Thuo, Sara Newmann, Nalinie Lazarus, Mags Beksinska, Nelly Mugo, Larry Rand

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Reproductive health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. A Compassion-Focused Approach to Support Parents After Preterm Birth.Clinical child and family psychology review · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Cecilia MilfordWits MRU (MatCH Research Unit), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 11th Floor, Commercial City Building, 40 Dr AB Xuma Street, Durban, 4001, South Africa. cmilford@mru.ac.za.
Emma SmithAlbert Einstein School of Medicine, New York, USA.
Kenneth NgureSchool of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nicholas B ThuoCenter for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya.
Sara NewmannDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Nalinie LazarusWits MRU (MatCH Research Unit), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 11th Floor, Commercial City Building, 40 Dr AB Xuma Street, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Mags BeksinskaWits MRU (MatCH Research Unit), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 11th Floor, Commercial City Building, 40 Dr AB Xuma Street, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Nelly MugoCenter for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya.
Larry RandDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
University of the Witwatersrand · ZAKenya Medical Research Institute · KEUniversity of California, San Francisco · USAlbert Einstein College of Medicine · USJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology · KE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPreterm birth (PTB) is a global health epidemic, sub-Saharan Africa is severely impacted due to its limited healthcare resources. Pregnancy knowledge, cultural beliefs and practices play a role in the identification of risk and management of PTB. This study explored knowledge, understandings, cultural beliefs and attitudes to pregnancy and PTB, as well as cultural considerations for the introduction of an intravaginal device which could be used to identify PTB risk.

methodsQualitative research was conducted in South Africa and Kenya. In-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured guides with women with a history of PTB (n = 10), healthcare providers (n = 16) and health systems experts (n = 10); and 26 focus group discussions with pregnant women seeking antenatal care (n = 132) and community male partners/fathers (n = 54). Interviews/discussions were transcribed, translated, and analysed thematically.

resultsPregnancy knowledge, especially for first time pregnancies was poor, with many reporting late entry to antenatal care. Knowledge about PTB was understood in terms of gestational age, weight or small size of baby, with concerns about long term health and stigma. Various risk factors for PTB were described, including those related to traditions and beliefs of witchcraft/curses. Cultural practices, such as the use of traditional medicines and pica, and religion and its impact on health seeking behaviour were also viewed as risk factors. Although insertion of intravaginal devices was not widely acceptable in traditional communities, especially during pregnancy, it was felt that the use of one to detect risk of PTB would be accepted if proven effective in reducing PTB risk.

conclusionsVarious culturally-informed beliefs exist which explain understandings of and attitudes toward pregnancy, pregnancy risk, and PTB. An inclusive exploratory process is critical to facilitate an understanding of the beliefs and traditions which could impact the introduction and design of a product to detect the risk of PTB.

Indexed as

EpidemicsPremature BirthEmotionsFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornKenyaMalePregnancySouth AfricaBeliefsCultureIntravaginal deviceKenyaPregnancyPreterm birthSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID37309003
PMCPMC10262463
OpenAlexW4380367809

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.