UP researchers use low-cost device to detect foetal growth restriction

Posted on April 04, 2022

Researchers at the University of Pretoria (UP) have shown that a low-cost, easy-to-use screening device can detect foetal growth restriction in pregnant women, which, if not diagnosed, can lead to stillbirth, neonatal death or suboptimal childhood growth.

Umbiflow made it to the list of Forbes Africa's "100 Innovations from Africa"

Posted on April 21, 2021

The scariest thing for any mother-to-be is the possibility of losing her baby. In South Africa, this has become a reality for a large portion of women as 28 out of 1,000 births result in mortality. This figure, however, has decreased dramatically and continues to fall thanks to the efforts of the...

The prevalence of abnormal Doppler's of the umbilical artery in a low-risk pregnant population in South Africa

Posted on April 21, 2021

The assessment of fetal blood flow using Doppler waveform can be used to identify placental insufficiency, and hence is a tool to identify fetuses at risk of stillbirth due to fetal growth restriction (FGR). In South Africa the largest category of perinatal deaths is ‘unexplained...

UP experts highlight importance of prenatal care as COVID-19 linked to increase in infant and maternal deaths

Posted on February 17, 2021

Healthcare services in metropolitan areas have been inundated by the number of COVID-19 infections taking away the emergency care for mothers in labour, warn UP experts.

Childbirth Experience Matters to Women and their Families

Posted on February 12, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnancy has become an even more emotional experience. Women place all their hopes and trust in midwives and doctors to assist them during labour.

South Africa needs a plan to protect children’s health beyond COVID-19

Posted on October 12, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a head-on challenge to even the most solid health systems in the world. In South Africa its onset collided with the already existing quadruple burden of disease. The country faces epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis (TB); non-communicable diseases such as hypertension...

Siyakhula - Our first patient that competed the Siyakhula Study

Posted on October 12, 2020

Siyakhula - Our first patient that competed the Siyakhula Study (for confidentiality the names are being withheld) Patient X with her 2-year-old son

Babies bustle with health at Kalafong

Posted on July 15, 2019

Pretoria - The 20th anniversary of the Kangaroo Mother Care unit at Kalafong Hospital was marked by praise and applause from mothers whose children benefited from the project. The project is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria, which serves the neonatal...