← All researchers

Mercy J. Newman

University of Ghana

66 publications · 2,501 citations

Antibiotic Resistance in BacteriaAntibiotic Use and ResistanceMycobacterium research and diagnosisBacterial Identification and Susceptibility TestingPneumonia and Respiratory Infections

We prepare their research opportunity report and reach out personally to introduce you — their contact details stay private.

Know them?Invite to claim·

Reach out

Their published papers and profiles list institutional contact details.

This profile was built automatically from public publication records and has not yet been claimed by the researcher.

Research opportunities

Study designs adjacent to this body of work — each grounded in the published record and scoped so a trainee could run it.

Claim your researcher profile

This profile was built from your public publication record — claim it to manage it.

What are the comparative efficacy and adherence rates of new short-course latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) regimens versus traditional long-course therapies in high-burden, low-resource settings?

Why this gap exists: While a 2023 network meta-analysis [6] synthesizes general efficacy and adherence data for LTBI regimens, the retrieved evidence lacks direct comparative studies specifically focused on high-burden, low-resource settings, leaving the specific constraints of these environments unresolved.

How do specific maternal microbiota profiles (gut, oral, or vaginal) during gestation correlate with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and subsequent long-term metabolic health in offspring?

Why this gap exists: While recent reviews [8] confirm GDM alters maternal gut microbiota and neonatal health, and older studies [0] note dysbiosis across maternal sites, the retrieved evidence lacks direct, longitudinal studies correlating specific gestational maternal microbiota profiles with the *long-term* metabolic health of offspring, leaving the core question unresolved.

To what extent do changes in the maternal microbiota (gut, oral, or vaginal) during pregnancy mediate the relationship between maternal perinatal anxiety/depression and the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring?

Why this gap exists: While recent studies confirm associations between maternal mental health and microbiota composition (Abstract 5, 8) and suggest the microbiome-gut-brain axis influences neurodevelopment (Abstract 0, 2), the retrieved evidence does not contain studies that directly test the mediating role of maternal microbiota changes between perinatal anxiety/depression and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes.

What is the comparative efficacy of household water treatment interventions versus improved water source infrastructure in reducing stunting among children under five in low- and middle-income countries?

Why this gap exists: While the retrieved literature confirms associations between water quality and child growth (e.g., Abstracts 2, 5, 8), no study directly compares the efficacy of household water treatment interventions against improved water source infrastructure for reducing stunting, leaving the specific comparative question unresolved.

Sources

  1. Determinants of stunting in Indonesian children: evidence from a cross-sectional survey indicate a prominent role for the water, sanitation and hygiene sector in stunting reductionBMC Public Health, 2016
  2. Early estimates of the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child mortality in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling studyThe Lancet Global Health, 2020
  3. Effects of water quality, sanitation, handwashing, and nutritional interventions on diarrhoea and child growth in rural Kenya: a cluster-randomised controlled trialThe Lancet Global Health, 2018
  4. Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health and Disease Heterogeneity: A ReviewFrontiers in Environmental Science, 2022
  5. Associated factors with malnutrition among children under-5 years old in Somaliland: evidence from Somaliland health and demographic survey of 2020.BMC public health, 2026
  6. Safe Drinking Water and Its Impact on Children's Growth and Development: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026
  7. Modelling the impact of dietary diversity on child nutrition in Pakistan: a machine learning analysis with Shapley Additive exPlanations and Boruta interpretability.Journal of global health, 2026
  8. Effectiveness of interventions to improve drinking water, sanitation, and handwashing with soap on risk of diarrhoeal disease in children in low-income and middle-income settings: a systematic review and meta-analysisThe Lancet, 2022
  9. Effect of Household Source of Drinking Water on Malnutrition among under Five Children in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2026
  10. Water Bridging Dynamics of Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Gauge Theory Paradigm of Quantum FieldsWater 2017, 9, 339, 2018

How does the aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes in low-income countries specifically modify the effectiveness of workplace breastfeeding interventions on exclusive breastfeeding rates?

Why this gap exists: While the retrieved literature addresses workplace barriers [7] and the negative impact of breastmilk substitute marketing [2, 9] separately, no study directly investigates the interaction effect or modification of workplace intervention effectiveness by aggressive marketing in low-income countries.

How do specific cultural beliefs regarding 'insufficient milk' in rural South African communities mediate the relationship between maternal dietary diversity and the introduction of prelacteal feeds?

Why this gap exists: While the retrieved papers discuss general breastfeeding barriers in South Africa [8] and cultural influences in other regions like Ethiopia [6] and Malaysia [9], none specifically address the mediation of 'insufficient milk' beliefs on the relationship between maternal dietary diversity and prelacteal feeds in rural South African communities.

Sources

  1. African Political Systems.American Sociological Review, 1940
  2. Maternal nutrition counselling is associated with reduced stunting prevalence and improved feeding practices in early childhood: a post-program comparison studyNutrition Journal, 2019
  3. Trends and determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2016International Breastfeeding Journal, 2019
  4. Marketing of commercial milk formula: a system to capture parents, communities, science, and policyThe Lancet, 2023
  5. Facilitators, barriers, and factors determining the willingness to donate human milk among postpartum mothers in a tertiary women's hospital in Nepal: a cross-sectional study.International breastfeeding journal, 2026
  6. Assessment of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices among Mothers Attending Maternal and Child Health Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital, North Karnataka, India - A Cross-sectional Study.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 2025
  7. Sociocultural and structural influences on infant and young child feeding in pastoralist communities of Afar, Ethiopia: a qualitative phenomenological study.BMJ open, 2026
  8. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in East Africa: a systematic reviewInternational Breastfeeding Journal, 2020
  9. Facilitators and barriers associated with breastfeeding among mothers attending primary healthcare facilities in Mpumalanga, South Africa.Frontiers in nutrition, 2023
  10. Assessing the Influence of Cultural Beliefs and Practices on Early Breastfeeding Initiation Rates in Rural Sarawak Communities, MalaysiaScientific Journal of Pediatrics, 2023

Publications