Regien Biesma
Biographic Data
| ID | 1736336 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Regien Biesma |
| GIVEN NAMES | Regien |
| FAMILY NAME | Biesma |
| SIGNATURE | BIESMA R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University Medical Center Groningen |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5532-0242 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Geographical accessibility to public healthcare facilities and undernutrition in children under-5 in Uganda
In Uganda, 29% of all children under-5 experience some form of undernutrition, a key predictor of health outcomes. Healthcare accessibility is a key determinant of undernutrition. Longer travel times to healthcare may increase undernutrition due to access barriers. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of geographical accessibility on undernutrition in children under-5 in Uganda. The Ugandan Demographic Health Survey from 2016 (UDHS-2016)…
Women’s empowerment and nutritional status of children
Objectives: This study examines aspects of women’s empowerment related to the nutritional status of under-five children in Bangladesh, including their age-appropriate food intake and access to healthcare during acute respiratory tract infection (ARI). Design: Three waves of the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) data (2011, 2014 and 2017–2018) were pulled and utilised to construct three domains of the Survey-Based Women’s Empowerment Ind…
Maternal and perinatal mortality
While there is ample evidence of the overall reduction in perinatal and pregnancy-related mortality in Ethiopia, it remains uncertain if geographic disparities have diminished. This study aimed to investigate perinatal and pregnancy-related mortality spatial distributions, trends over time, and factors associated with the distribution in Ethiopia. We used data from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016. …
Optimizing maternal health facility locations in Ethiopia
Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) facilities are scarce in Ethiopia and concentrated in bigger cities. Using geospatial analysis, this study modeled the optimal locations for new EmONC facilities such that a maximum number of women could access them. We used data from the 2016 EmONC Assessment encompassing 3804 health facilities (including 370 EmONC facilities). Using OpenStreetMap data, we created a road network with different speed a…
The impact of accredited social health activists in India on uptake of modern contraception
The government of India introduced the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) programme in 2006 to connect marginalised communities to the health system. ASHAs are mandated to increase the uptake of modern contraception through the doorstep provision of services. There is currently no evidence on the impact of ASHAs on the uptake of contraception at the national level. This paper examines the impact of ASHAs on the uptake of modern contraceptio…
The effect of the implementation of the international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes on child mortality in Ghana and Tanzania
Objective: The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes is an important instrument to protect and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding and the safe use of commercial milk formulas. Ghana and Tanzania implemented the Code into national legislation in 2000 and 1994, respectively. We aimed to estimate the effects of the Code implementation on child mortality (CM) in both countries. Setting: The countries analysed were…
Effectiveness of a complex, pre-conception intervention to reduce the risk of diabetes by reducing adiposity in young adults in Malaysia
Background: Pre-conception interventions have the potential to lower non-communicable disease risk in prospective parents and reduce transmission of risk factors such as obesity to the next generation. The Jom Mama project in Malaysia investigated the effectiveness of a combined behaviour change communication and e-health intervention in young married couples prior to first pregnancy. This paper reports the evaluation of the effectiveness of this…
How applicable is geospatial analysis in maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review
Investigating feasibility of 2021 WHO protocol for cervical cancer screening in underscreened populations
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05234112 . Registered 10 February 2022
Stakeholder Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators on the Implementation of the 1000 Days Plus Nutrition Policy Activities in Ghana
Optimizing nutrition in the preconception and 1000 days periods have long-term benefits such as higher economic productivity, reduced risk of related non-communicable diseases and increased health and well-being. Despite Ghana's recent progress in reducing malnutrition, the situation is far from optimal. This qualitative study analyzed the maternal and child health nutrition policy framework in Ghana to identify the current barriers and facilitat…
Mental Health and Quality of Life of Women One Year after Maternal Near-Miss in Low and Middle-Income Countries
Women who experienced a maternal near-miss are at risk of mental health complications and lower quality of life, but long-term consequences are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to assess whether mental health symptoms and quality of life change over time and to examine associations with risk factors among post-partum women. In this cohort study, women with maternal near-miss were matched to women without or with mild complications at Mna…
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Uptake and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Kenya
In the last two decades, the use of short-acting methods of contraception has driven the increase of contraceptive use in Kenya. We assessed the factors associated with uptake of long-acting reversible contraception by women seeking family planning services in public health facilities in Kakamega County, Kenya. A mixed methods cross-sectional study through client exit surveys among 423 women seeking family planning services was done at 12 public …
Is the Urban Child Health Advantage Declining in Malawi
In many developing countries including Malawi, health indicators are on average better in urban than in rural areas. This phenomenon has largely prompted Governments to prioritize rural areas in programs to improve access to health services. However, considerable evidence has emerged that some population groups in urban areas may be facing worse health than rural areas and that the urban advantage may be waning in some contexts. We used a descrip…
Pre-pregnancy community-based intervention for couples in Malaysia
IM is an iterative process that systematically gathers "best" evidence, selects appropriate theories of behaviour change, and facilitates formative research so as to develop a complex intervention. Though the IM process is time consuming, complex, and costly, it has enriched the Jom Mama intervention with a number of notable advantages: (i) intervention fashioned on formative work with stakeholders and in the target group; (ii) intervention combi…
Analysis of human resources for health strategies and policies in 5 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in response to GFATM and Pepfar-funded HIV-activities
BACKGROUND: Global Health Initiatives (GHIs), aiming at reducing the impact of specific diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), have flourished since 2000. Amongst these, PEPFAR and GFATM have provided a substantial amount of funding to countries affected by HIV, predominantly for delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) and prevention strategies. Since the need for additional human resources for health (HRH) was not initially consid…
The implementation of a global fund grant in Lesotho
National and subnational HIV/Aids coordination
BACKGROUND: A coordinated response to HIV/AIDS remains one of the 'grand challenges' facing policymakers today. Global health initiatives (GHIs) have the potential both to facilitate and exacerbate coordination at the national and subnational level. Evidence of the effects of GHIs on coordination is beginning to emerge but has hitherto been limited to single-country studies and broad-brush reviews. To date, no study has provided a focused synthes…
The effects of global health initiatives on country health systems
This paper reviews country-level evidence about the impact of global health initiatives (GHIs), which have had profound effects on recipient country health systems in middle and low income countries. We have selected three initiatives that account for an estimated two-thirds of external funding earmarked for HIV/AIDS control in resource-poor countries: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the World Bank Multi-country AIDS Program (MAP) …
The implementation of a global fund grant in Lesotho
Is the Urban Child Health Advantage Declining in Malawi
In many developing countries including Malawi, health indicators are on average better in urban than in rural areas. This phenomenon has largely prompted Governments to prioritize rural areas in programs to improve access to health services. However, considerable evidence has emerged that some population groups in urban areas may be facing worse health than rural areas and that the urban advantage may be waning in some contexts. We used a descrip…
The effects of global health initiatives on country health systems
This paper reviews country-level evidence about the impact of global health initiatives (GHIs), which have had profound effects on recipient country health systems in middle and low income countries. We have selected three initiatives that account for an estimated two-thirds of external funding earmarked for HIV/AIDS control in resource-poor countries: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the World Bank Multi-country AIDS Program (MAP) …
National and subnational HIV/Aids coordination
BACKGROUND: A coordinated response to HIV/AIDS remains one of the 'grand challenges' facing policymakers today. Global health initiatives (GHIs) have the potential both to facilitate and exacerbate coordination at the national and subnational level. Evidence of the effects of GHIs on coordination is beginning to emerge but has hitherto been limited to single-country studies and broad-brush reviews. To date, no study has provided a focused synthes…
The implementation of a global fund grant in Lesotho
Analysis of human resources for health strategies and policies in 5 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in response to GFATM and Pepfar-funded HIV-activities
BACKGROUND: Global Health Initiatives (GHIs), aiming at reducing the impact of specific diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), have flourished since 2000. Amongst these, PEPFAR and GFATM have provided a substantial amount of funding to countries affected by HIV, predominantly for delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) and prevention strategies. Since the need for additional human resources for health (HRH) was not initially consid…
Pre-pregnancy community-based intervention for couples in Malaysia
IM is an iterative process that systematically gathers "best" evidence, selects appropriate theories of behaviour change, and facilitates formative research so as to develop a complex intervention. Though the IM process is time consuming, complex, and costly, it has enriched the Jom Mama intervention with a number of notable advantages: (i) intervention fashioned on formative work with stakeholders and in the target group; (ii) intervention combi…
Is the Urban Child Health Advantage Declining in Malawi
In many developing countries including Malawi, health indicators are on average better in urban than in rural areas. This phenomenon has largely prompted Governments to prioritize rural areas in programs to improve access to health services. However, considerable evidence has emerged that some population groups in urban areas may be facing worse health than rural areas and that the urban advantage may be waning in some contexts. We used a descrip…
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Uptake and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Kenya
In the last two decades, the use of short-acting methods of contraception has driven the increase of contraceptive use in Kenya. We assessed the factors associated with uptake of long-acting reversible contraception by women seeking family planning services in public health facilities in Kakamega County, Kenya. A mixed methods cross-sectional study through client exit surveys among 423 women seeking family planning services was done at 12 public …
Mental Health and Quality of Life of Women One Year after Maternal Near-Miss in Low and Middle-Income Countries
Women who experienced a maternal near-miss are at risk of mental health complications and lower quality of life, but long-term consequences are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to assess whether mental health symptoms and quality of life change over time and to examine associations with risk factors among post-partum women. In this cohort study, women with maternal near-miss were matched to women without or with mild complications at Mna…
Stakeholder Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators on the Implementation of the 1000 Days Plus Nutrition Policy Activities in Ghana
Optimizing nutrition in the preconception and 1000 days periods have long-term benefits such as higher economic productivity, reduced risk of related non-communicable diseases and increased health and well-being. Despite Ghana's recent progress in reducing malnutrition, the situation is far from optimal. This qualitative study analyzed the maternal and child health nutrition policy framework in Ghana to identify the current barriers and facilitat…
Effectiveness of a complex, pre-conception intervention to reduce the risk of diabetes by reducing adiposity in young adults in Malaysia
Background: Pre-conception interventions have the potential to lower non-communicable disease risk in prospective parents and reduce transmission of risk factors such as obesity to the next generation. The Jom Mama project in Malaysia investigated the effectiveness of a combined behaviour change communication and e-health intervention in young married couples prior to first pregnancy. This paper reports the evaluation of the effectiveness of this…
How applicable is geospatial analysis in maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review
Investigating feasibility of 2021 WHO protocol for cervical cancer screening in underscreened populations
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05234112 . Registered 10 February 2022
The impact of accredited social health activists in India on uptake of modern contraception
The government of India introduced the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) programme in 2006 to connect marginalised communities to the health system. ASHAs are mandated to increase the uptake of modern contraception through the doorstep provision of services. There is currently no evidence on the impact of ASHAs on the uptake of contraception at the national level. This paper examines the impact of ASHAs on the uptake of modern contraceptio…
The effect of the implementation of the international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes on child mortality in Ghana and Tanzania
Objective: The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes is an important instrument to protect and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding and the safe use of commercial milk formulas. Ghana and Tanzania implemented the Code into national legislation in 2000 and 1994, respectively. We aimed to estimate the effects of the Code implementation on child mortality (CM) in both countries. Setting: The countries analysed were…
Maternal and perinatal mortality
While there is ample evidence of the overall reduction in perinatal and pregnancy-related mortality in Ethiopia, it remains uncertain if geographic disparities have diminished. This study aimed to investigate perinatal and pregnancy-related mortality spatial distributions, trends over time, and factors associated with the distribution in Ethiopia. We used data from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016. …
Optimizing maternal health facility locations in Ethiopia
Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) facilities are scarce in Ethiopia and concentrated in bigger cities. Using geospatial analysis, this study modeled the optimal locations for new EmONC facilities such that a maximum number of women could access them. We used data from the 2016 EmONC Assessment encompassing 3804 health facilities (including 370 EmONC facilities). Using OpenStreetMap data, we created a road network with different speed a…
Geographical accessibility to public healthcare facilities and undernutrition in children under-5 in Uganda
In Uganda, 29% of all children under-5 experience some form of undernutrition, a key predictor of health outcomes. Healthcare accessibility is a key determinant of undernutrition. Longer travel times to healthcare may increase undernutrition due to access barriers. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of geographical accessibility on undernutrition in children under-5 in Uganda. The Ugandan Demographic Health Survey from 2016 (UDHS-2016)…
Women’s empowerment and nutritional status of children
Objectives: This study examines aspects of women’s empowerment related to the nutritional status of under-five children in Bangladesh, including their age-appropriate food intake and access to healthcare during acute respiratory tract infection (ARI). Design: Three waves of the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) data (2011, 2014 and 2017–2018) were pulled and utilised to construct three domains of the Survey-Based Women’s Empowerment Ind…
Medicine (15 works) · Environmental health (10 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (10 works) · Nursing (9 works) · Economic growth (8 works) · Child Nutrition and Water Access (7 works) · Public health (7 works) · Geography (6 works) · Population (6 works) · Economics (5 works)