The advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in sub-Saharan Africa is fundamentally hindered by "health data poverty".1 While many high-income countries have made significant progress in strengthening their health data systems, sub-Saharan Africa continues to face significant gaps.1-3 Despite the critical need for evidence-based practice, the regional data landscape is characterized by a pervasive ignorance regarding the intrinsic value of accurate data. Many countries in the region lack regular population censuses, reliable health records, and functional civil registration and vital statistics systems.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a common metabolic disorder caused mainly by estrogen deficiency, which accelerates bone resorption, suppresses bone formation, and increases fracture risk in aging women. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota influences skeletal homeostasis through the gut-bone axis, indicating that probiotic supplementation may provide a novel nutritional strategy for bone protection. This study evaluated the osteoprotective effects of two probiotic strains, Bifidobacterium breve i1088 and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum i772, in an ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rat model of estrogen-deficiency-induced osteoporosis. Female rats were randomly allocated to sham-operated control, ovariectomized model, probiotic treatment, and positive control groups. After intervention, bone mineral density, femoral calcium content, and trabecular microarchitecture were assessed. Compared with untreated ovariectomized rats, probiotic supplementation significantly increased bone mineral density and bone calcium content, improved trabecular thickness, and reduced trabecular separation (P < 0.01). These findings demonstrated that probiotic administration attenuated bone loss and preserved skeletal microstructure under estrogen-deficient conditions. The results provide preclinical evidence that Bifidobacterium-based probiotic formulations may serve as a promising adjunctive nutritional approach for maintaining bone health in postmenopausal women. Further clinical studies are required to confirm their preventive and therapeutic potential in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

This study examines breast cancer screening behaviors among women in a working-class neighborhood of Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, within the context of economic insecurity and therapeutic pluralism, where biomedical, traditional, and religious care practices coexist. A qualitative interpretive approach was used, based on 23 semi-structured interviews with women aged 18 and above, selected through purposive sampling and analyzed thematically. The findings reveal uneven knowledge of screening, particularly among older and economically vulnerable women, due to limited media exposure and social isolation. Breast cancer is widely associated with mutilation and death, generating ambivalent responses ranging from avoidance to heightened vigilance among women. Screening practices are shaped by intersecting economic, institutional, and time constraints, alongside enabling factors such as social support, prenatal care interactions, and media- and school-based awareness. These findings highlight the need for context-sensitive prevention strategies that integrate local social dynamics and diverse therapeutic landscapes.

Trusted for their legitimacy and track-record, faith-based organisations play a substantial role in the provision of sexual and reproductive health care as part of social services with emphasis on the disadvantaged. Religious imperatives may cause conflict through lack of alignment with government policies regarding selected aspects of rights-based programming: limited range of services, gender norms leading to exclusions and accountability. Nevertheless, their services are crucial to complement those of government in the global South. The long-standing lack of resources of faith-based organisations might be resolved through imminent initiatives for the reform of official development aid that will include public-private partnerships.

Cervical cancer remains a significant reproductive and public health concern, particularly among women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in low-resource settings like Irrua community in Edo State Nigeria. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and the Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) as screening methods for premalignant and malignant cervical lesions in HIV-positive women. A comparative cross-sectional design was employed, involving 136 HIV-positive women who met the inclusion criteria. Suspicious or well-defined aceto-white areas observed during VIA were biopsied and subjected to histopathological examination. The sensitivity of VIA was higher than that of the Pap smear (94.1% vs. 73.5%), whereas its specificity was lower (25% vs. 79.5%). When both methods were combined, the screening performance improved, yielding higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (92.3%, 87.5%, 92.3%, and 87.5%, respectively) than either test alone. These findings indicate that VIA demonstrates higher sensitivity than the Pap smear, while using both methods in combination enhances overall diagnostic accuracy. We recommend that VIA can therefore serve as an effective complementary screening tool to the Pap smear for the early detection of cervical cancer, particularly in resource-constrained healthcare settings. Keywords: Cervical cancer, HIV-positive women, Pap smear, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), Screening methods, Sensitivity and specificity, Low-resource settings, Premalignant lesions, Histopathology, Comparative cross-sectional study.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Mozambique face a high risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, yet face substantial barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV services. This qualitative study explored AGYW experiences in accessing SRHR and HIV care at Zimpeto and Primeiro de Junho Health Facilities (HF) in Maputo between June 12 and 28, 2023, using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed in NVivo 14 and interpreted using the socio-ecological model. Barriers were mainly institutional and individual. Institutional challenges included negative provider attitudes, long wait times, inaccessible services, limited provider skills, and medication stockouts. Individual barriers included fear of parental discussion, low self-esteem, and apprehension about HIV testing or contraceptives. Interpersonal barriers, such as limited family support, were less prominent. Addressing these barriers through enhanced service quality, adolescent-friendly approaches, and supportive, knowledgeable providers is crucial to improving AGYW access to SRHR and HIV services.

Low uptake of family planning (FP) particularly during the postpartum period contributes to unintended pregnancies, thus increasing the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study explored barriers to FP in rural southwest Nigeria using surveys from 388 men and women and interviews with 14 midwives across three states (June-July 2022). Eligible participants included postpartum women, men, and midwives. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, and qualitative data using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis in Atlas.ti. The results show that although 62.6% of respondents had good knowledge of FP, only 35.5% reported current use. However, positive attitude (OR=1.689, p<0.05), tertiary education (OR=2.331, p<0.05), and having multiple partners (OR=1.793, p<0.05) were significant predictors. Thematic analysis of provider interviews revealed user-related, provider-related, and health system barriers. The study highlights the need for targeted FP education and structural interventions to improve uptake and overcome both individual and systemic challenges in rural communities.

Sexuality education communication between parents and teenagers plays a significant role in delaying sexual debut for teenagers, helping in the prevention of teenage pregnancy and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Studies report that sexuality education communication between teenagers and parents is minimal, uncoordinated, and ineffective. This exposes teenagers to negative sexual behaviours, which could lead to HIV and unplanned teenage pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to explore the views and perceptions of teenagers in the rural KwaZulu-Natal on barriers to sexuality education communication with their parents. The study was conducted in three purposefully chosen rural locations of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, using qualitative descriptive phenomenology. Data were collected from 22 purposively chosen teenagers using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was done using Colaizzi's framework for data analysis. Themes that emerged from the data were fear and culture. Overall findings revealed that sexuality education communication between teenagers and their parents was perceived by teenagers in the rural areas as a fearful and culturally prohibited activity. We recommend that parent-teenager sexuality education communication strategies should be developed to enhance such communication.

Hypertensive disorders, particularly pre-eclampsia, are major contributors to maternal mortality worldwide. Uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography, which measures indices such as the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI), has proven to be an effective tool for the early prediction of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of uterine artery Doppler indices between 14-22 weeks of gestation for these adverse pregnancy outcomes.This study included 480 pregnant women between 14-22 weeks of gestation. Uterine artery Doppler measurements, including PI, RI, and the presence of diastolic notching, were recorded. Participants were followed up for the development of pre-eclampsia and IUGR. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the Doppler indices were calculated.Pre-eclampsia was observed in 6.9% (n = 33) of participants, while IUGR occurred in 5% (n = 24). Pre-eclamptic women exhibited significantly higher uterine artery PI (1.0 ± 0.15) and RI (0.75 ± 0.07) compared to normotensive women (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of uterine artery PI in predicting pre-eclampsia were 52% and 83.3%, respectively. Uterine artery notching demonstrated a sensitivity of 58.3% and a specificity of 90% in predicting IUGR. Uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography is a valuable tool for predicting pre-eclampsia and IUGR.

This study examines the effects of dance education on emotional repair and identity reconstruction among women, with particular attention to the roles of embodiment, bodily governance, and negotiated agency. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to women participating in formal and semi-formal dance education settings in selected Chinese cities. The study measured six latent constructs: Dance Education Engagement, Embodiment, Emotional Repair, Identity Reconstruction, Bodily Governance, and Negotiated Agency. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the relationships among these variables. The findings show that dance education significantly enhances embodiment, which in turn positively contributes to emotional repair and identity reconstruction. The results further indicate that although dance spaces may reproduce forms of bodily governance through discipline and normative expectations, women actively negotiate these structures through agency and self-expression. Overall, the study highlights dance education as both an embodied pedagogical practice and a psychosocial resource that supports women's emotional wellbeing and self-redefinition. These findings contribute to growing scholarship on movement-based interventions and suggest that dance education may offer meaningful benefits for women's mental health, empowerment, and holistic wellbeing.