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Fekadu H, Mekonnen W, Adugna A, Kloos H, Hailemariam D. Barriers to equitable healthcare services for under-five children in Ethiopia: a qualitative exploratory study. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:613. [PMID: 38730298 PMCID: PMC11084004 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11074-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disparities in child healthcare service utilization are unacceptably high in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, little is known about underlying barriers to accessing child health services, especially among low socioeconomic subgroups and in remote areas. This study aims to identify barriers to equity in the use of child healthcare services in Ethiopia. METHODS Data were obtained from 20 key- informant interviews (KII) and 6 focus group discussions (FGD) with mothers and care givers. This study was conducted in Oromia Region, Arsi Zone, Zuway Dugda District from June 1-30, 2023. The study participants for this research were selected purposively. The information was collected based on the principle of saturation after sixteen consecutives interview were conducted. Both KII and FGD were audio-recorded and complementary notes were taken to record observations about the participants' comments and their interactions. Each interview and FGD data were transcribed word-for-word in the local Afaan Oromo and Amaharic languages and then translated to English language. Finally, the data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software and narrated in the linked pattern of child health service utilization. RESULTS This study identified six major themes which emerged as barriers to healthcare utilization equity for caregivers and their -under-five children. Barriers related to equity in low level of awareness regarding need, low socioeconomic status, geographical inaccessibility, barriers related to deficient healthcare system, community perception and cultural restrictions, and barriers of equity related to political instability and conflict. The most commonly recognized barriers of equity at the community level were political instability, conflict, and a tremendous distance to a health facility. Transportation challenges, poor functional services, closure of the health facility in working hours, and lack of proper planning to address the marginalized populations were identified barriers of equity at organizational or policy level. CONCLUSION This study showed that inequity in child healthcare utilization is an important challenge confronting Ethiopia. To achieve equity, policy makers and planners need to change health policy and structure to be pro-poor. It is also necessary to improve the healthcare system to increase service utilization and access for impoverished women, individuals with lower levels of education, and residents of isolated rural areas. Furthermore, context specific information pertaining to cultural barriers and political ecology are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailu Fekadu
- Department of Public Health, Arsi University College of Health Science, Assela, Ethiopia.
| | - Wubegzier Mekonnen
- School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University College of Health Science, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Aynalem Adugna
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environmental Sonoma State University, Sonoma, San Francisco, USA
| | - Helmut Kloos
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Damen Hailemariam
- School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University College of Health Science, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Shibeshi K, Lemu Y, Gebretsadik L, Gebretsadik A, Morankar S. Gender-based roles, psychosocial variation, and power relations during delivery and postnatal care: a qualitative case study in rural Ethiopia. Front Glob Womens Health 2023; 4:1155064. [PMID: 37941873 PMCID: PMC10627791 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2023.1155064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly encouraged men to support women in receiving maternal healthcare. However, especially in developing countries, maternal healthcare has traditionally been viewed as an issue in women, with men making little or no contribution, even though sexuality and children are shared products. The study aims to understand how gender-based roles, psychosocial variation, and power relations are related to child delivery and postnatal care (PNC) services. Methods The study was conducted in three rural districts of Oromia regional state, Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. An in-depth interview and focus group discussion were held with carefully chosen health professionals, health extension workers, community health development armies, and religious leaders. The data was collected, translated, and transcribed by experienced men and women qualitative researchers. For data analysis, ATLAS.ti version 9 was used. The data were coded and categorized concerning delivery and PNC service utilization. Independent and shared gender-based roles were identified as a means to improve maternal healthcare service delivery. Results The result obtained three categories, namely, gender-based roles, psychosocial variation, and power relations. Men can persuade pregnant women to use delivery services and PNC. The place of delivery is determined by the levels of gender-based power relations at the household level, but women are usually the last decision-makers. The belief of the community that giving birth in a health facility makes women look clean and neat, as opposed to home delivery, increases their intention to use maternal healthcare services. Discussion The study contributes that the role of a man as a husband is crucial in mobilizing others to carry pregnant women to health facilities, contributing to early intervention during labor. The decision-making capacity of women has improved over time, with men accepting their right to make decisions about their health and fetuses. Home delivery and men not being present during delivery are perceived as signs of backwardness, whereas giving birth in health institutes is seen as a sign of modernization and the rights of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketema Shibeshi
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Department of Public Health, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
| | - Yohannes Lemu
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Lakew Gebretsadik
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Abebe Gebretsadik
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Sudhakar Morankar
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Ebrahim NB, Atteraya MS. Inequalities of Infant Mortality in Ethiopia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6068. [PMID: 37372655 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Infant mortality is viewed as a core health indicator of overall community health. Although globally child survival has improved significantly over the years, Sub-Saharan Africa is still the region with the highest infant mortality in the world. In Ethiopia, infant mortality is still high, albeit substantial progress has been made in the last few decades. However, there is significant inequalities in infant mortalities in Ethiopia. Understanding the main sources of inequalities in infant mortalities would help identify disadvantaged groups, and develop equity-directed policies. Thus, the purpose of the study was to provide a diagnosis of inequalities of infant mortalities in Ethiopia from four dimensions of inequalities (sex, residence type, mother's education, and household wealth). (2) Methods: Data disaggregated by infant mortalities and infant mortality inequality dimensions (sex, residence type, mother's education, and household wealth) from the WHO Health Equity Monitor Database were used. Data were based on Ethiopia's Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) of 2000 (n = 14,072), 2005 (n = 14,500), 2011 (n = 17,817), and 2016 (n = 16,650) households. We used the WHO Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software to find estimates of infant mortalities along with inequality measures. (3) Results: Inequalities related to sex, residence type, mother's education, and household wealth still exist; however, differences in infant mortalities arising from residence type, mother's education, and household wealth were narrowing with the exception of sex-related inequality where male infants were markedly at a disadvantage. (4) Conclusions: Although inequalities of infant mortalities related to social groups still exist, there is a substantial sex related infant mortality inequality with disproportional deaths of male infants. Efforts directed at reducing infant mortality in Ethiopia should focus on improving the survival of male infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser B Ebrahim
- Department of Public Health, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Madhu S Atteraya
- Department of Social Welfare, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
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Wuneh AD, Bezabih AM, Persson LÅ, Okwaraji YB, Medhanyie AA. "If I Was Educated, I Would Call the Ambulance and Give Birth at the Health Facility"-A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Inequities in the Utilization of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Services in Northern Ethiopia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11633. [PMID: 36141904 PMCID: PMC9517196 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In earlier studies, we have shown that the utilization of maternal health services in rural Ethiopia was distributed in a pro-rich fashion, while the coverage of child immunization was equitably distributed. Hence, this study aimed to explore mothers' and primary healthcare workers' perceptions of inequities in maternal, newborn, and child health services in rural Ethiopia, along with the factors that could influence such differentials. A qualitative study was conducted from November to December 2019 in two rural districts in Tigray, Ethiopia. Twenty-two in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions were carried out with mothers who had given birth during the last year before the survey. We also interviewed women's development group leaders, health extension workers, and health workers. The final sample was determined based on the principle of saturation. The interviews and focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged during the analysis that characterized the distribution of the service utilization and perceived causes of inequity. These were: (1) perceptions of the inequity in the use of maternal and child health services, and (2) perceived causes of inequity in maternal and child health service utilization. The mothers perceived antenatal care, facility-based delivery, and care-seeking for sick children to be inequitably distributed, while immunization was recognized as an equitable service. The inequity in the maternal and child health services was linked to poverty, lack of education, lack of access, and poor-quality services. The poor, the uneducated, and women who were distant from health facilities had a low utilization rate of services. The weak implementation of community-based equity-oriented policies, such as community-based health insurance, was perceived to result in health inequities. Mothers and primary healthcare providers in rural Ethiopia experienced weaknesses in delivering equitable services. The narratives could inform efforts to provide universal health coverage for mothers, newborns, and children by improving access and empowering women through poverty alleviation and education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alem Desta Wuneh
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia
| | - Afework Mulugeta Bezabih
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia
| | - Lars Åke Persson
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Yemisrach Behailu Okwaraji
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Araya Abrha Medhanyie
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia
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Mamo A, Abera M, Abebe L, Bergen N, Asfaw S, Bulcha G, Asefa Y, Erko E, Bedru KH, Lakew M, Kurji J, Kulkarni MA, Labonté R, Birhanu Z, Morankar S. Maternal social support and health facility delivery in Southwest Ethiopia. Arch Public Health 2022; 80:135. [PMID: 35546410 PMCID: PMC9092803 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-022-00890-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal mortality continues to decrease in the world but remain the most important health problems in low-income countries. Although evidence indicates that social support is an important factor influencing health facility delivery, it has not been extensively studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of maternal social support and related factors on health facility delivery in southwest Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional survey data on 3304 women aged 15-47 years in three districts of Ethiopia, were analyzed. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed the association between health facility birth, social support, and socio-demography variables. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to identify statistically significant associations at 5% alpha level. RESULT Overall, 46.9% of women delivered at health facility in their last pregnancy. Average travel time from closest health facility (AOR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.90), mean perception score of health facility use (AOR: 1.83, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.33), involvement in final decision to identify their place of childbirth (AOR: 2.12, 95% CI 1.73 to 2.58) had significantly higher odds of health facility childbirth. From social support variables, women who perceived there were family members and husband to help them during childbirth (AOR: 3.62, 95% CI 2.74 to 4.79), women who received continuous support (AOR: 1.97, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.23), women with companions for facility visits (AOR: 1.63, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.00) and women who received support from friends (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.23) had significantly higher odds of health facility childbirth. CONCLUSIONS Social support was critical to enhance health facility delivery, especially if women's close ties help facility delivery. An intervention to increase facility delivery uptake should target not only the women's general social supports, but also continuous support during childbirth from close ties including family members and close friends as these are influential in place of childbirth. Also actions that increase women's healthcare decision could be effective in improving health facility delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abebe Mamo
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Muluemebet Abera
- Department of population and family health, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Lakew Abebe
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Nicole Bergen
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3 Canada
| | - Shifera Asfaw
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | - Yisalemush Asefa
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Endale Erko
- Maternal and Child Health Directorate, Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau, Maternal Health, Family Planning and AYH Advisor, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Jaameeta Kurji
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3 Canada
| | - Manisha A. Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3 Canada
| | - Ronald Labonté
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3 Canada
| | - Zewdie Birhanu
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Sudhakar Morankar
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Iliyasu Z, Galadanci HS, Muhammad B, Yadudu FZ, Kwaku AA, Salihu HM, Aliyu MH. Correlates of HIV-Positive Fathers' Involvement in Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission Programs in Northern Nigeria. Curr HIV Res 2020; 18:443-457. [PMID: 32778029 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x18666200810133347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The involvement of men in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programs could accelerate the elimination of vertical transmission. Yet, little research has focused on HIV-positive male partners. This study determined the predictors of male partners' PMTCT knowledge and involvement in a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria. METHODS A clinic-based sample of 401 HIV-positive male partners of women who delivered within 12 months prior were interviewed using structured questionnaires. PMTCT knowledge and involvement scores were computed. Adjusted odd ratios (AOR) for predictors were derived from multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS The proportion of respondents with adequate PMTCT knowledge was 40.9%. Less than half (43.6%) of the respondents participated in PMTCT, with median involvement score of 2.00 (interquartile range, IQR = 0, 5.0). One quarter of respondents (25.7%, n =103) reported >1 sex partners, 10.5% consistently used condoms, and 20.7% had disclosed to all partners. Fathers' involvement in PMTCT was predicted by paternal education (AOR = 0.30; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.12-0.77, no formal vs. post-secondary), HIV-positive child (AOR = 3.85; 95%CI: 1.41-10.54, yes vs. no), treatment duration (AOR = 4.17; 95%CI: 1.67-10.41, ≤1 vs. ≥10 years), disclosure to partner(s) (AOR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.15-3.52, 'disclosed to all' vs. 'not disclosed'), condom use (AOR = 5.81; 95%CI: 3.07-11.0, always vs. never), and PMTCT knowledge (AOR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.31-0.92, inadequate versus adequate). CONCLUSION The involvement of fathers in HIV PMTCT programs was low and predicted by paternal education, HIV-positive child, duration of antiretroviral treatment, disclosure to partner, consistent condom use, and level of PMTCT knowledge. Our findings will inform the development of policies to increase male partner involvement in PMTCT in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubairu Iliyasu
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics Division, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | | | - Bashir Muhammad
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics Division, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Fatima Z Yadudu
- School of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Aminatu A Kwaku
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics Division, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Hamisu M Salihu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Muktar H Aliyu
- Department of Health Policy and Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health,Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee, United States
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