SSMJ May 2025

Editorials

Midwives: Critical in every crisis

Established in 1992 by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the world celebrates the International Day of the Midwife (IDM) on 5 May yearly to celebrate and raise awareness about the midwifery profession. This year’s theme is “Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis.”

News, Reports and Policy

Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund Grant Awards to South Sudanese Applicants 2025-2026

GMCTF News from South Sudan

Obituary: Dr John Dual Antipas Ayiei Monythoi

Obituary

The South Sudan Medical Journal Call for Submissions and Reviewers

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Clinical Guidance

No documents found.

Research

Reasons for underutilisation of antenatal care services amongst women coming for delivery at Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan

Antenatal care (ANC), also called prenatal care, is routine care provided for women during pregnancy to promote their overall health and that of their unborn babies and to identify, prevent, and/or manage complications or problems as they arise. Its major goal is to ensure birth of a healthy baby and minimise maternal risk: Its main components include risk assessment, health promotion and education, and therapeutic intervention.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding complications of pregnancy and childbirth among women attending antenatal care in Maridi, South Sudan

Globally, the estimated number of maternal deaths in 2010 was 529,000. These were predominantly in Africa (251,000) and Asia (253,000). For every pregnant woman who dies, at least 30 suffer serious injuries and often permanent disability. Maternal mortality/100,000 births was highest in Africa (830), followed by Asia (330). The average risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes in Africa is about 1 in 20, compared to 1 in 2000 in the more developed countries. South Sudan may be the leading country in Africa with a maternal mortality rate of 1,223 per 100,000 live births.

Evaluating the adoption of a mobile application for quality-of-care assessments in South Sudan using Rogers’ innovation diffusion theory

The Health Pooled Fund (HPF) in South Sudan introduced a mobile application, HPF Quality-of-Care (QoC) Application (App) in 2019 to address the inefficiencies of its paper-based assessment system. This innovative digital health solution allowed for direct data entry at health facilities (HFs), with subsequent cloud storage for remote access and analysis.

Reconstruction of mandibular “chop-off” defects resulting from gunshot injuries at University Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria: A retrospective study

Severe mandibular injuries resulting from high energy/velocity gunshot to the face often lead to substantial loss of both hard and soft tissues. The term “chop off” describes these injuries to the mandible due to their distinct characteristic presentation. The mechanism of injury involves a perpendicular transection of tissues across the mandible with the severity of damage determined by the amount of kinetic energy transferred. These injuries are life-threatening and when seen at presentation the Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol must be followed starting with the primary survey: Catastrophic bleeding, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, and Disability (CABCD).

Underdeveloped but essential: Findings from a survey of private pharmaceutical firms in South Sudan

This study presents characteristics of private pharmaceutical firms in South Sudan. A firm’s formality or informality is a continuum and lacks a universal definition. However, self-reported formality or informality maps to varied levels of productivity and innovation and varies with firm’s age and size. This study uses specifications in the literature for a firm’s formality and potential for innovation, including a firm’s size (number of employees), age (years), and entrepreneur’s sex, as well as manager’s education level and workforce.

Case Reports

No documents found.

Summaries

The importance of scientific conferences in improving medical services in South Sudan

Scientific conferences play a vital role in enhancing the quality of medical services in South Sudan by fostering knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capacity building among healthcare professionals. These events provide a platform for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and explore innovations tailored to the country`s unique healthcare needs.

Expanding the utility of MUAC tapes

Letter to the Editor

Reply to the Sudanese American Medical Association’s letter to the editor about simulation-based education amid conflict

Letter to the Editor