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Santos TM, Cata-Preta BO, Wendt A, Arroyave L, Blumenberg C, Mengistu T, Hogan DR, Victora CG, Barros AJD. Exploring the "Urban Advantage" in Access to Immunization Services: A Comparison of Zero-Dose Prevalence Between Rural, and Poor and Non-poor Urban Households Across 97 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. J Urban Health 2024; 101:638-647. [PMID: 38767765 PMCID: PMC11189869 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00859-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Urban children are more likely to be vaccinated than rural children, but that advantage is not evenly distributed. Children living in poor urban areas face unique challenges, living far from health facilities and with lower-quality health services, which can impact their access to life-saving vaccines. Our goal was to compare the prevalence of zero-dose children in poor and non-poor urban and rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Zero-dose children were those who failed to receive any dose of a diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) containing vaccine. We used data from nationally representative household surveys of 97 LMICs to investigate 201,283 children aged 12-23 months. The pooled prevalence of zero-dose children was 6.5% among the urban non-poor, 12.6% for the urban poor, and 14.7% for the rural areas. There were significant differences between these areas in 43 countries. In most of these countries, the non-poor urban children were at an advantage compared to the urban poor, who were still better off or similar to rural children. Our results emphasize the inequalities between urban and rural areas, but also within urban areas, highlighting the challenges faced by poor urban and rural children. Outreach programs and community interventions that can reach poor urban and rural communities-along with strengthening of current vaccination programs and services-are important steps to reduce inequalities and ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago M Santos
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil.
| | - Bianca O Cata-Preta
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil
- Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Rua Padre Camargo, 280, Curitiba, PR, 80060-240, Brazil
| | - Andrea Wendt
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Tecnologia Em Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica Do Paraná, Rua Imaculada Conceição 1155, Curitiba, PR, 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Luisa Arroyave
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Cauane Blumenberg
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Tewodaj Mengistu
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Chemin du Pommier 40, 1218, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel R Hogan
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Chemin du Pommier 40, 1218, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cesar G Victora
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Aluisio J D Barros
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil
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Show KL, Maung TM, Disney G, Bohren MA, Lumbiganon P, Ngamjarus C. Socioeconomic inequalities in skilled attendance at birth and caesarean section rates in Myanmar 2015-2016: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e076646. [PMID: 38503412 PMCID: PMC10952930 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess inequalities in skilled birth attendance and utilisation of caesarean section (CS) in Myanmar. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study design. SETTING AND POPULATION We used secondary data from the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015-2016). Our outcome measures of skilled birth attendance and utilisation of CS were taken from the most recent birth of interviewed women. Absolute and relative inequalities across several sociodemographic characteristics were assessed and evaluated by calculating rate differences, rate ratio and concentration indexes. RESULTS More than one-third (36%, 95% CI 32.5% to 39.4%) of women gave birth without a skilled birth attendant present at their most recent birth. 40.7% (95% CI 37.8% to 43.7%) gave birth in healthcare facilities, and the CS rate was 19.7% (95% CI 17.9% to 21.8%) for their most recent birth. The highest proportion of birth without a skilled provider was found in the hilly regions and rural residents, poorest and less educated women, and those with less than four antenatal care visits. Inequalities in birth without a skilled provider were observed across regions, place of residence, wealth quintile, education level and number of antenatal care taken. The highest rate of CS was found among plain regions and urban residents, richest women, more than secondary education, those with more than four antenatal care visits and in private health facilities. Inequalities in CS utilisation were observed across place of residence, wealth quintiles, education level, number of antenatal care taken and type of health facilities. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence regarding inequalities in maternal health service utilisation in Myanmar. Increasing maternal health service availability and accessibility, promoting quality of care and health education campaigns to increase maternal health services utilisation are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyaw Lwin Show
- Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Thae Maung Maung
- Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - George Disney
- Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Meghan A Bohren
- Gender and Women's Health Unit, Nossal Institute for Global Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pisake Lumbiganon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Chetta Ngamjarus
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
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Guerra S, Roope LS, Tsiachristas A. Assessing the relationship between coverage of essential health services and poverty levels in low- and middle-income countries. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:156-167. [PMID: 38300510 PMCID: PMC10883664 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to provide essential health services and financial protection to all. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the service coverage aspect of universal health coverage and poverty in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using country-level data from 96 LMICs from 1990 to 2017, we employed fixed-effects and random-effects regressions to investigate the association of eight service coverage indicators (inpatient admissions; antenatal care; skilled birth attendance; full immunization; cervical and breast cancer screening rates; diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection treatment rates) with poverty headcount ratios and gaps at the $1.90, $3.20 and $5.50 poverty lines. Missing data were imputed using within-country linear interpolation or extrapolation. One-unit increases in seven service indicators (breast cancer screening being the only one with no significant associations) were associated with reduced poverty headcounts by 2.54, 2.46 and 1.81 percentage points at the $1.90, $3.20 and $5.50 lines, respectively. The corresponding reductions in poverty gaps were 0.99 ($1.90), 1.83 ($3.20) and 1.89 ($5.50) percentage points. Apart from cervical cancer screening, which was only significant in one poverty headcount model ($5.50 line), all other service indicators were significant in either the poverty headcount or gap models at both $1.90 and $3.20 poverty lines. In LMICs, higher service coverage rates are associated with lower incidence and intensity of poverty. Further research is warranted to identify the causal pathways and specific circumstances in which improved health services in LMICs might help to reduce poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanny Guerra
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
- Department of Population Health Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence Sj Roope
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Apostolos Tsiachristas
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, United Kingdom
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Kundu S, Sharif AB, Chowdhury SSA, Afroz S, Dey R, Hossain A. Socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in delivery by cesarean section among women in Bangladesh, 2004-2017. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:131. [PMID: 38350916 PMCID: PMC10863140 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06327-z] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a dearth of evidence on the trends and inequalities in utilizing cesarean section (CS) among women in Bangladesh. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in delivery by CS among Bangladeshi women from 2004 to 2017. METHODS Data from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017 were analyzed using the WHO's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. Inequalities were measured using four summary measures: Difference (D), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF), and Ratio (R). Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed using two equity dimensions: household wealth status, and level of education, while geographical disparities were measured using two equity dimensions: place of residence, and sub-national regions. For each measure, point estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were reported. RESULTS An increasing trend in the prevalence (weighted) of CS in Bangladesh use was found from 4.50% in 2004 to 32.73% in 2017 We found significant socioeconomic inequalities in CS in every survey point, with a higher concentration of CS among the rich (in 2017, PAR = 28.57; 95% CI: 26.69-30.46) indicating a pro-rich inequality, and higher educated (in 2017, PAF = 23.97; 95% CI: 12.26-35.68) sub-groups. We also identified significant geographical disparities in CS with a higher concentration of CS among people from urban areas (in 2017, PAR = 10.99; 95% CI: 10.19-11.79), and a coastal region (Khulna division) (in 2017, PAF: 30.48 (95% CI: 18.66-42.30). CONCLUSION We observed both socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in CS exist in Bangladesh, though the trends of these inequalities were curved over time. Thus, it is important to comprehend these pro-rich and geographical inequalities better and implement appropriate interventions and policies to alleviate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyajit Kundu
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh.
| | - Azaz Bin Sharif
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Syed Sharaf Ahmed Chowdhury
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Sadia Afroz
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Rakhi Dey
- Statistics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Hossain
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
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Ferede Gebremedhin A, Dawson A, Hayen A. Evaluations of effective coverage of maternal and child health services: A systematic review. Health Policy Plan 2022; 37:895-914. [PMID: 35459943 PMCID: PMC9347022 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventionally used coverage measures do not reflect the quality of care. Effective coverage (EC) assesses the extent to which health care services deliver potential health gains to the population by integrating concepts of utilization, need and quality. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of studies evaluating EC of maternal and child health services, quality measurement strategies and disparities across wealth quantiles. A systematic search was performed in six electronic databases [MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Scopus, Web of Science and Maternity and Infant Care] and grey literature. We also undertook a hand search of references. We developed search terms having no restrictions based on publication period, country or language. We included studies which reported EC estimates based on the World Health Organization framework of measuring EC. Twenty-seven studies, all from low- and middle-income settings (49 countries), met the criteria and were included in the narrative synthesis of the results. Maternal and child health intervention(s) and programme(s) were assessed either at an individual level or as an aggregated measure of health system performance or both. The EC ranged from 0% for post-partum care to 95% for breastfeeding. When crude coverage measures were adjusted to account for the quality of care, the EC values turned lower. The gap between crude coverage and EC was as high as 86%, and it signified a low quality of care. The assessment of the quality of care addressed structural, process and outcome domains individually or combined. The wealthiest 20% had higher EC of services than the poorest 20%, an inequitable distribution of coverage. More efforts are needed to improve the quality of maternal and child health services and to eliminate the disparities. Moreover, considering multiple dimensions of quality and the use of standard measurements are recommended to monitor coverage effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aster Ferede Gebremedhin
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, PO Box 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
- School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia
| | - Angela Dawson
- School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew Hayen
- School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia
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Nahar MT, Anik SMFI, Islam MA, Islam SMS. Individual and community-level factors associated with skilled birth attendants during delivery in Bangladesh: A multilevel analysis of demographic and health surveys. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267660. [PMID: 35767568 PMCID: PMC9242462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Skilled birth attendants (SBAs) play a crucial role in reducing infant and maternal mortality. Although the ratio of skilled assistance at birth has increased in Bangladesh, factors associated with SBA use are unknown. The main goal of our study was to reveal the individual- and community-level factors associated with SBA use during childbirth in Bangladesh. We also showed the prevalence and trend of SBA use and related independent variables in Bangladesh over the past decade. Methods This study utilized the Bangladesh Health and Demographic Survey (BDHS) 2017–2018, a cross-sectional study. We used binary logistic regression to examine the extent of variation in SBA use attributable to the individual- and community-level variables. Results Overall, 53.35% of women received assistance from SBAs during childbirth. The average annual rate of increase (AARI) in the number of SBA-assisted births over the past 10 years was 8.88%. Respondents who gave birth at or above 19 years had 1.40 times (AOR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.21–1.62) greater odds of having skilled delivery assistance than respondents aged 18 years old or less. Women and their husband’s education levels were significantly associated with using skilled assistance during delivery, with odds of 1.60 (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.45–2.01) and 1.41 (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.21–1.66), respectively compared to those with education up to primary level. Women from rich families and those receiving better antenatal care (ANC) visits were more likely to have professional delivery assistance. Community-level factors also showed significance towards having professional assistance while giving birth. Women from urban communities and those who utilized more than four ANC visits and had completed secondary or higher education showed a greater tendency to use an SBA during childbirth than their counterparts. Conclusion The use of SBAs during delivery was significantly associated with some individual- and community-level factors. To reduce maternal and child mortality, there is a need to focus on rural and uneducated people who are less likely to access these facilities. Special programs could increase awareness and help the poor community obtain the minimum facility in maternal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mst. Tanmin Nahar
- Statistics Discipline, Science Engineering & Technology School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - S. M. Farhad Ibn Anik
- Statistics Discipline, Science Engineering & Technology School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Akhtarul Islam
- Statistics Discipline, Science Engineering & Technology School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
- * E-mail:
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Sserwanja Q, Mufumba I, Kamara K, Musaba MW. Rural-urban correlates of skilled birth attendance utilisation in Sierra Leone: evidence from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056825. [PMID: 35351721 PMCID: PMC8961150 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Understanding the rural-urban context-specific correlates of skilled birth attendance (SBA) is important to designing relevant strategies and programmes. This analysis aimed to assess for the rural-urban correlates of SBA in Sierra Leone. SETTING The latest nationally representative Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey of 2019. PARTICIPANTS The study included a weighted sample of 7326 women aged 15-49 years. Each of them had a live birth within 5 years prior to the survey (4531 in rural areas and 2795 women in urban areas). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURE SBA (primary) and predictors of SBA (secondary). RESULTS SBA was higher in urban areas at 94.9% (95% CI 94.1% to 95.7%) compared with 84.2% (95% CI 83.8% to 85.9%) in rural areas. Rural women resident in the Southern, Northern and Eastern regions, with postprimary education (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.8; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.5), exposure to mass media (aOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9), not having difficulties with distance to the nearest health facility (aOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.7 to 3.0) were associated with higher odds of SBA. Urban women resident in the Southern, Eastern region, with households having less than seven members (aOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3), exposure to mass media (aOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.9) and not having difficulties with distance to the nearest health facility (aOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5) were associated with higher odds of SBA. CONCLUSION Given the observed differences, improving SBA requires programmes and strategies that are context-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivan Mufumba
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- CHILD Research Laboratory, Global Health Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Kassim Kamara
- National Disease Surveillance Programme, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Western Area, Sierra Leone
| | - Milton W Musaba
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda
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Changes in Inequality in Use of Maternal Health Care Services: Evidence from Skilled Birth Attendance in Mauritania for the Period 2007-2015. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063566. [PMID: 35329257 PMCID: PMC8948710 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Skilled birth attendance is critical to reduce infant and maternal mortality. Health development plans and strategies, especially in developing countries, consider equity in access to maternal health care services as a priority. This study aimed to measure and analyze the inequality in the use of skilled birth attendance services in Mauritania. The study identifies the inequality determinants and explores its changes over the period 2007−2015. The concentration curve, concentration index, decomposition of the concentration index, and Oaxaca-type decomposition technique were performed to measure socioeconomically-based inequalities in skilled birth attendance services utilization, and to identify the contribution of different determinants to such inequality as well as the changes in inequality overtime using data from Mauritania Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) 2007 and 2015. The concentration index for skilled birth attendance services use dropped from 0.6324 (p < 0.001) in 2007 to 0.5852 (p < 0.001) in 2015. Prenatal care, household wealth level, and rural−urban residence contributed most to socioeconomic inequality. The concentration index decomposition and the Oaxaca-type decomposition revealed that changes in prenatal care and rural−urban residence contributed positively to lower inequality, but household economic status had an opposite contribution. Clearly, the pro-rich inequality in skilled birth attendance is high in Mauritania, despite a slight decrease during the study period. Policy actions on eliminating geographical and socioeconomic inequalities should target increased access to skilled birth attendance. Multisectoral policy action is needed to improve social determinants of health and to remove health system bottlenecks. This will include the socioeconomic empowerment of women and girls, while enhancing the availability and affordability of reproductive and maternal health commodities. This policy action can be achieved through improving the availability of obstetric service providers in rural areas; ensuring better distribution and quality of health infrastructure, particularly health posts and health centers; and, ensuring user fees removal for equitable, efficient, and sustainable financial protection in line with the universal health coverage objectives.
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Bobo FT, Asante A, Woldie M, Dawson A, Hayen A. Spatial patterns and inequalities in skilled birth attendance and caesarean delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:bmjgh-2021-007074. [PMID: 34716145 PMCID: PMC8559094 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Improved access to and quality obstetric care in health facilities reduces maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. We examined spatial patterns, within-country wealth-related inequalities and predictors of inequality in skilled birth attendance and caesarean deliveries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We analysed the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data from 25 sub-Saharan African countries. We used the concentration index to measure within-country wealth-related inequality in skilled birth attendance and caesarean section. We fitted a multilevel Poisson regression model to identify predictors of inequality in having skilled attendant at birth and caesarean section. Results The rate of skilled birth attendance ranged from 24.3% in Chad to 96.7% in South Africa. The overall coverage of caesarean delivery was 5.4% (95% CI 5.2% to 5.6%), ranging from 1.4% in Chad to 24.2% in South Africa. The overall wealth-related absolute inequality in having a skilled attendant at birth was extremely high, with a difference of 46.2 percentage points between the poorest quintile (44.4%) and the richest quintile (90.6%). In 10 out of 25 countries, the caesarean section rate was less than 1% among the poorest quintile, but the rate was more than 15% among the richest quintile in nine countries. Four or more antenatal care contacts, improved maternal education, higher household wealth status and frequently listening to the radio increased the rates of having skilled attendant at birth and caesarean section. Women who reside in rural areas and those who have to travel long distances to access health facilities were less likely to have skilled attendant at birth or caesarean section. Conclusions There were significant within-country wealth-related inequalities in having skilled attendant at birth and caesarean delivery. Efforts to improve access to birth at the facility should begin in areas with low coverage and directly consider the needs and experiences of vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firew Tekle Bobo
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Oromia, Ethiopia .,School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Augustine Asante
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mirkuzie Woldie
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia.,Fenot Project, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Angela Dawson
- School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew Hayen
- School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Anindya K, Marthias T, Vellakkal S, Carvalho N, Atun R, Morgan A, Zhao Y, Hulse ESG, McPake B, Lee JT. Socioeconomic inequalities in effective service coverage for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health: a comparative analysis of 39 low-income and middle-income countries. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 40:101103. [PMID: 34527893 PMCID: PMC8430373 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reducing socioeconomic inequalities in access to good quality health care is key for countries to achieve Universal Health Coverage. This study aims to assess socioeconomic inequalities in effective coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS Using the most recent national health surveys from 39 LMICs (between 2014 and 2018), we calculated coverage indicators using effective coverage care cascade that consists of service contact, crude coverage, quality-adjusted coverage, and user-adherence-adjusted coverage. We quantified wealth-related and education-related inequality using the relative index of inequality, slope index of inequality, and concentration index. FINDINGS The quality-adjusted coverage of RMNCH services in 39 countries was substantially lower than service contact, in particular for postnatal care (64 percentage points [pp], p-value<0·0001), family planning (48·7 pp, p<0·0001), and antenatal care (43·6 pp, p<0·0001) outcomes. Upper-middle-income countries had higher effective coverage levels compared with low- and lower-middle-income countries in family planning, antenatal care, delivery care, and postnatal care. Socioeconomic inequalities tend to be wider when using effective coverage measurement compared with crude and service contact measurements. Our findings show that upper-middle-income countries had a lower magnitude of inequality compared with low- and lower-middle-income countries. INTERPRETATION Reliance on the average contact coverage tends to underestimate the levels of socioeconomic inequalities for RMNCH service use in LMICs. Hence, the effective coverage measurement using a care cascade approach should be applied. While RMNCH coverages vary considerably across countries, equitable improvement in quality of care is particularly needed for lower-middle-income and low-income countries. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanya Anindya
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tiara Marthias
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Sukumar Vellakkal
- Department of Economic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kalyanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Natalie Carvalho
- Center for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rifat Atun
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alison Morgan
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Global Financing Facility, The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Yang Zhao
- WHO Collaborating Centre on Implementation Research for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Emily SG Hulse
- Center for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Barbara McPake
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John Tayu Lee
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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Seidu AA, Ahinkorah BO, Agbaglo E, Oduro JK, Amoah A, Yaya S. Factors associated with the utilisation of skilled delivery services in Papua New Guinea: evidence from the 2016-2018 Demographic and Health Survey. Int Health 2021; 14:64-73. [PMID: 33684205 PMCID: PMC8769953 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the use of skilled assistance during delivery in Papua New Guinea. METHODS We analysed nationally representative data from 5210 women in Papua New Guinea using the 2016-2018 Demographic and Health survey. Both bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS The prevalence of skilled assistance during delivery was 57.6%. The richest women (adjusted OR [AOR]=3.503, 95% CI 2.477 to 4.954), working women (AOR=1.221, 95% CI 1.037 to 1.439), women with primary (AOR=1.342, 95% CI 1.099 to 1.639), secondary or higher education (AOR=2.030, 95% CI 1.529 to 2.695), women whose partners had a secondary or higher level of education (AOR=1.712, 95% CI 1.343 to 2.181], women who indicated distance was not a big problem in terms of healthcare (AOR=1.424, 95% CI 1.181 to 1.718), women who had ≥4 antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR=10.63, 95% CI 8.608 to 13.140), women from the Islands region (AOR=1.305, 95% CI 1.045 to 1.628), those who read newspapers or magazines (AOR=1.310, 95% CI 1.027 to 1.669) and women who watched television (AOR=1.477, 95% CI 1.054 to 2.069) less than once a week had higher odds of utilising skilled attendants during delivery. On the contrary, women in the Momase region (AOR=0.543, 95% CI 0.438 to 0.672), women in rural areas (AOR=0.409, 95% CI 0.306 to 0.546), as well as women with a parity of 3 (AOR=0.666, 95% CI 0.505 to 0.878) or ≥4 (AOR=0.645, 95% CI 0.490 to 0.850) had lower odds of utilising skilled attendance during delivery. CONCLUSION There is relatively low use of skilled delivery services in Papua New Guinea. Wealth, employment status, educational level, parity and number of ANC visits, as well as access to healthcare and place of residence, influence the utilisation of skilled delivery services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- Department of Population and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,College of Public Health, Medical and Vertinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ebenezer Agbaglo
- Department of English, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Joseph Kojo Oduro
- Department of Population and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Abigail Amoah
- Department of Population and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Sanni Yaya
- School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON KIN 6N5, Canada.,The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London W120BZ, UK
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Cookson R, Doran T, Asaria M, Gupta I, Mujica FP. The inverse care law re-examined: a global perspective. Lancet 2021; 397:828-838. [PMID: 33640069 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00243-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
An inverse care law persists in almost all low-income and middle-income countries, whereby socially disadvantaged people receive less, and lower-quality, health care despite having greater need. By contrast, a disproportionate care law persists in high-income countries, whereby socially disadvantaged people receive more health care, but of worse quality and insufficient quantity to meet their additional needs. Both laws are caused not only by financial barriers and fragmented health insurance systems but also by social inequalities in care seeking and co-investment as well as the costs and benefits of health care. Investing in more integrated universal health coverage and stronger primary care, delivered in proportion to need, can improve population health and reduce health inequality. However, trade-offs sometimes exist between health policy objectives. Health-care technologies, policies, and resourcing should be subjected to distributional analysis of their equity impacts, to ensure the objective of reducing health inequalities is kept in sight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Cookson
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, England.
| | - Tim Doran
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, England
| | - Miqdad Asaria
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics, London, England
| | - Indrani Gupta
- Health Policy Research Unit, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, India
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13
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Levels of and changes in socioeconomic inequality in delivery care service: A decomposition analysis using Bangladesh Demographic Health Surveys. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242325. [PMID: 33253221 PMCID: PMC7703934 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socioeconomic inequality in maternity care is well-evident in many developing countries including Bangladesh, but there is a paucity of research to examine the determinants of inequality and the changes in the factors of inequality over time. This study examines the factors accounting for the levels of and changes in wealth-related inequality in three outcomes of delivery care service: health facility delivery, skilled birth attendance, and C-section delivery in Bangladesh. METHODS This study uses from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey of 2011 and 2014. We apply logistic regression models to examine the association between household wealth status and delivery care measures, controlling for a wide range of sociodemographic variables. The Erreygers normalised concentration index is used to measure the level of inequalities and decomposition method is applied to disentangle the determinants contributing to the levels of and changes in the observed inequalities. RESULTS We find a substantial inequality in delivery care service utilisation favouring woman from wealthier households. The extent of inequality increased in health facility delivery and C-section delivery in 2014 while increase in skilled birth attendance was not statistically significant. Wealth and education were the main factors explaining both the extent of and the increase in the degree of inequality between 2011 and 2014. Four or more antenatal care (ANC4+) visits accounted for about 8% to 14% of the observed inequality, but the contribution of ANC4+ visits declined in 2014. CONCLUSION This study reveals no progress in equity gain in the use of delivery care services in this decade compared to a declining trend in inequity in the last decade in Bangladesh. Policies need to focus on improving the provision of delivery care services among women from poorer socioeconomic groups. In addition, policy initiatives for promoting the completion of quality education are important to address the stalemate of equity gain in delivery care services in Bangladesh.
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Ameyaw EK, Dickson KS. Skilled birth attendance in Sierra Leone, Niger, and Mali: analysis of demographic and health surveys. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:164. [PMID: 32013896 PMCID: PMC6998232 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-8258-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Skilled birth attendance (SBA) is a key strategy for averting maternal mortality ratio (MMR). The lifetime risk of maternal death is high in countries with low SBA. With the presence of a skilled birth attendant, the possibility of death owing to intrapartum-related complications or stillbirth can be reduced by 20%. Methods Using data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys, we investigated the prevalence of skilled birth attendance, variations, and associated factors. The sample was drawn from women aged 15–49 who were surveyed in these countries as part of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program. With multivariate logistic regression, we explored the socio-demographic factors that predict women’s likelihood of seeking skilled birth attendance or otherwise. Results Less than half of the women in Niger, Sierra Leone, and Mali obtained skilled birth attendance, with the worst case occurring in Niger (32.6%). Women in rural areas have less likelihood of obtaining skilled birth attendance (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.16–0.28), as compared to women in urban locations. Highly educated women (OR 2.50; 95% CI 0.72–8.69), those who had subscribed to health insurance (OR 1.39; 95% CI 0.88–2.20), those who obtain four or more antenatal care visits (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.43–1.86), and women who watch television at least once a week (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.88–2.88) are more probable to seek SBA. Conclusion Interventions to increase SBA rates in these countries need to be reassessed to focus on the rural-urban disparity in healthcare, female education, and ANC attendance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
- The Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kwamena Sekyi Dickson
- Department of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Sully EA, Biddlecom AS, Darroch JE. Not all inequalities are equal: differences in coverage across the continuum of reproductive health services. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001695. [PMID: 31544002 PMCID: PMC6730583 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducing inequalities in health service coverage is central to achieving the larger goal of universal health coverage. Reproductive health services are part of evidence-based health interventions that comprise a minimum set of essential health interventions that all countries should be able to provide. This paper shows patterns in inequalities in three essential reproductive health services that span a continuum of care—contraceptive use, antenatal care during pregnancy and delivery at a health facility. We highlight coverage gaps and their impacts across geographical regions, key population subgroups and measures of inequality. We focus on reproductive age women (15–49 years) in 10 geographical regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. We examine inequalities by age (15–19, 20–24, 25–34 and 35–49 years), household wealth quintile, residence (rural or urban) and parity. Data on service coverage and the population in need are from 84 nationally representative surveys. Our results show that dominant inequalities in contraceptive coverage are varied, and include large disparities and impact by age group, compared with maternal health services, where inequalities are largest by economic status and urban–rural residence. Using multiple measures of inequality (relative, absolute and population impact) not only helps to show if there are consistent patterns in inequalities but also whether few or many different approaches are needed to reduce these inequalities and where resources could be prioritised to reach the largest number of people in need.
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Zhang C, Rahman MS, Rahman MM, Yawson AE, Shibuya K. Trends and projections of universal health coverage indicators in Ghana, 1995-2030: A national and subnational study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0209126. [PMID: 31116754 PMCID: PMC6530887 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ghana has made significant stride towards universal health coverage (UHC) by implementing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2003. This paper investigates the progress of UHC indicators in Ghana from 1995 to 2015 and makes future predictions up to 2030 to assess the probability of achieving UHC targets. National representative surveys of Ghana were used to assess health service coverage and financial risk protection. The analyses estimated the coverage of 13 prevention and four treatment service indicators at the national level and across wealth quintiles. In addition, we calculated catastrophic health payments and impoverishment to assess financial hardship and used a Bayesian regression model to estimate trends and future projections as well as the probabilities of achieving UHC targets by 2030. Wealth-based inequalities and regional disparities were also assessed. At the national level, 14 out of the 17 health service indicators are projected to reach the target of 80% coverage by 2030. Across wealth quintiles, inequalities were observed amongst most indicators with richer groups obtaining more coverage than their poorer counterparts. Subnational analysis revealed while all regions will achieve the 80% coverage target with high probabilities for the prevention services, the same cannot be applied to the treatment services. In 2015, the proportion of households that suffered catastrophic health payments and impoverishment at a threshold of 25% non-food expenditure were 1.9% (95%CrI: 0.9-3.5) and 0.4% (95%CrI: 0.2-0.8), respectively. These are projected to reduce to 0.4% (95% CrI: 0.1-1.3) and 0.2% (0.0-0.5) respectively by 2030. Inequality measures and subnational assessment revealed that catastrophic expenditure experienced by wealth quintiles and regions are not equal. Significant improvements were seen in both health service coverage and financial risk protection over the years. However, inequalities across wealth quintiles and regions continue to be cause of concerns. Further efforts are needed to narrow these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherri Zhang
- Department of Global Health Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Md. Shafiur Rahman
- Department of Global Health Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Global Public Health Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Global Health Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Global Public Health Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Alfred E. Yawson
- Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kenji Shibuya
- Department of Global Health Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- University Institute for Population Health, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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