BackgroundThe burden of pre-existing cardiovascular disease and the contribution to adverse pregnancy outcomes are not robustly quantified, particularly in low-income countries. We aimed to determine both the prevalence of maternal heart disease through active case finding and its attributable risk to adverse pregnancy outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a 24-month prospective longitudinal investigation in three Ugandan health centres, using echocardiography for active case finding during antenatal care. Women with and without heart disease were followed to 6 weeks post partum to determine pregnancy outcomes. Prevalence of heart disease was calculated. Per cent attributable risk estimates were generated for maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality.ResultsScreening echocardiography was performed in 3506 women. The prevalence of heart disease was 17 per 1000 women (95% CI 13 to 21); 15 per 1000 was rheumatic heart disease. Only 3.4% of women (2/58) had prior diagnosis. Cardiovascular complications occurred in 51% of women with heart disease, most commonly heart failure. Per cent attributable risk of heart disease on maternal mortality was 88.6% in the exposed population and 10.8% in the overall population. Population attributable risk of heart disease on fetal death was 1.1% and 6.0% for neonatal mortalityConclusionsOccult maternal heart disease may be responsible for a substantial proportion of adverse pregnancy outcomes in low-resource settings. Rheumatic heart disease is, by far, the most common condition, urging global prioritisation of this neglected cardiovascular disease.

Breast cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly increasing in low-and middle-income countries like Uganda. Shifting the proportion of women presenting with late-stage breast cancer to earlystage breast cancer (downstaging) at the time of diagnosis would substantially improve survival and efficient use of available resources. Imaging The World (ITW) conducted a pilot study in Uganda where trained village health teams (VHTs) promoted breast cancer awareness in the Kamuli District (Uganda). As a result, 212 women with self-detected lumps presented to the community health center level III (Nawanyago HCIII) for a clinical breast examination (CBE). Patients with masses on CBE were examined with breast ultrasound by a certified sonographer trained in breast imaging. Women with ultrasound-detected masses were referred to a regional health center for further evaluation. Of the 212 women, 44 (21%) had a palpable mass by CBE, 11 (28%) examined by ultrasound were recommended for biopsy, and four breast cancers were diagnosed. Providing ultrasound scanning at Nawanyago HCIII reduced the number of women travelling to the referral hospital by 75%. As a result of breast cancer awareness and ultrasound studies, we were able to diagnose breast cancer at an earlier stage than would be otherwise possible. This pilot project supports locally available breast ultrasound as a resource-appropriate strategy to downstage breast cancer in a low-income country. I S S N 2 3 7 2 -8 4 1 8 in large numbers of patients. Therefore, given the resources, the most resource-appropriate strategy seems to be downstaging through health awareness leading to increased rates of BSE and CBE.According to the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) guidelines, resource-appropriate strategies to downstage breast cancer in Uganda should include increased breast health awareness, so women begin to practice BSE and present early to their providers after self-detecting a lump (9, 10). It is also important to train the providers in breast health to obtain appropriate history and physical examination including a proper CBE. Both BSE and CBE have the potential for a high false-positive rate and are, therefore, no longer recommended in countries where screening mammography is available (11-13). But, with one publically available mammography unit in the country, screening mammography is not a feasible option for most Ugandan women, particularly rural women. Ultrasound is more widely available, even in rural areas, and has the ability to characterize palpable masses detected by CBE as those requiring biopsy versus those that can safely be managed by imaging or clinical follow-up (14).In accordance with the World Health Organization's recommendations to reduce the global burden of breast cancer (15), Imaging The World (ITW) developed a resource-appropriate strategy to downstage breast cancer. ITW is a non-profit organization with a global team of volunteers who provide ultrasound training, equipment and technology in LMICs to improve and sustain health outcomes...

Background Pre-existing maternal cardiac disease is a significant contributor to adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. In 2015–2017, our team conducted the first community-based study of maternal rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in sub-Saharan Africa and identified RHD in 88% of those with pre-existing heart disease. Here we conducted a follow up investigation of women previously identified with RHD, describing clinical and echocardiographic outcomes, identifying barriers to medical adherence and evaluating the personal impact of RHD. Methods A 2 week prospective follow up was completed at sites in Central and Eastern Uganda. Participants underwent a three-step mixed methods study comprising of 1) direct structured interview targeting clinical history and medication adherence, 2) echocardiogram to evaluate left-sided heart valves, and 3) semi-structured guideline interview to elicit personal impacts of RHD. Results The team evaluated 40 (80%) of the original 51 mothers with RHD at a median post-partum time of 2.5 years after delivery (IQR 0.5). Echocardiographic data showed improvement in nine women with the remaining 31 women showing stable echocardiographic findings. Adherence to Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) prophylaxis was poor, with 70% of patients either poorly adherent or non-adherent. Three major themes emerged from interviews: 1) social determinants of health (World Health Organization, Social determinants of health, 2019) negatively affecting healthcare, 2) RHD diagnosis negatively affecting female societal wellbeing, 3) central role of spouse in medical decision making. Conclusions Screening echocardiography can identify women with pre-existing rheumatic heart disease during pregnancy, but long-term follow-up in Uganda reveals adherence to medical care following diagnosis, including BPG, is poor. Additionally, mothers diagnosed with RHD may experience unintended consequences such as social stigmatization. As identification of occult RHD is critical to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes, further research is needed to determine how to best support women who face a new diagnosis of RHD, and to determine the role of screening echocardiography in high-risk settings.

Maternal and child health conditions, many of which can be detected by ultrasound, represent the highest burden of disease in Uganda. Imaging the World (ITW) is a not-for-profit organization which integrates high quality, affordable ultrasound services into rural health facilities. Of all the challenges faced with implementation of ITW programs in Uganda, lack of sensitization to ultrasound represented the greatest barrier. The Village Health Team (VHT) is an existing public health "train the trainer" model, sponsored by the Uganda Ministry of Health, that provides public health training to community volunteers. Trained VHT members were recruited to help with ultrasound community outreach and education. These VHT members were successful in achieving dramatic community acceptance and increased utilization of ultrasound services in rural communities. This has led to significant contributions in improving population health in low-resource settings.