Socioeconomic inequalities in the uptake of maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia

Socioeconomic inequality in postnatal care utilisation among reproductive age women in sub-Saharan African countries with high maternal mortality: a decomposition analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the socioeconomic inequality in postnatal care (PNC) utilisation and its contributors among women in 14 sub-Saharan African countries with high maternal mortality.

DESIGN

Community-based cross-sectional study using Demographic Health Survey SETTING: Africa countries with the highest maternal mortality ratio (14 countries) PARTICIPANTS: All women who had given birth within 2 years prior to the survey (n=64 912) PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Postnatal care utilisation RESULTS: The percentage of women who had PNC utilisation was lowest in Ethiopia (23.4%: 95% CI: 22.1%, 24.7%) and highest in The Gambia (91.5%: 95% CI: 90.6%, 92.4%). There was statistically significant pro-rich inequality in the PNC utilisation in all countries except Liberia, meaning PNC utilisation was disproportionately concentrated among women from wealthier households. The weighted Erreygers Normalized Concentration Index (ECI) ranged from 0.0398 in The Gambia to 0.476 in Nigeria; the second-highest inequality was in Cameroon (0.382), followed by Guinea (0.344). The decomposition analysis revealed that the wealth index was the largest contributor to inequality in PNC utilisation in seven countries: Benin, Burundi, The Gambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania. In contrast, educational status emerged as the primary contibutor in Cameroon and Zimbabwe, media exposure in Mali and Mauritania, and distance to healthcare facilities in Ethiopia. However, in Liberia, the weighted ECI of 0.0012 with a p value of 0.96 indicate that there is no significant socioeconomic inequality in PNC utilisation, suggesting that the distribution of PNC utilisation is almost equal across different socioeconomic groups.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed a pro-rich inequality in PNC utilisation across all included sub-Saharan African countries with high maternal mortality, except Liberia. This implies that PNC utilisation disproportionately favours the wealthy. Therefore, financially better-off women are more likely to utilise PNC services compared to those who are poor. Addressing the identified contributors of socioeconomic inequalities in PNC utilisation in each country remains crucial for achieving equity in PNC utilisation.

Wealth disparities in maternal health service utilization among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia: findings from the mini-EDHS 2019

BACKGROUND

Ethiopia has made strides in reducing maternal mortality, but significant discrepancies in maternal health service utilization exist across socioeconomic levels. According to studies, women from higher-income households are far more likely to use essential services such as antenatal care, delivery care, and postnatal care than poorer women. This wealth disparity is a primary contributor to persistently high maternal mortality, particularly among poor populations. The study's goal was to assess wealth disparities in maternal health service uptake and identify contributing factors.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We used the Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey (EMDHS), conducted in 2019 on women aged 15-49 living in selected census areas, with a weighted sample size of 3,909. The Erreygers Concentration Index (ECI) was used to measure wealth inequalities in maternal health care, and the ECI decomposition was used to identify factors contributing to inequality in maternal health services.

RESULTS

Maternal health service utilization was pro-rich among women in Ethiopia. The prevalence of antenatal care service (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) service utilization showed a pro-rich distribution among Ethiopian women, with ECI = 0.115 (95% CI: 0.091-0.137), ECI = 0.223 (95% CI: 0.191-0.276), and ECI = 0.121 (95% CI: 0.041-0.200), respectively. The ECI indices were decomposed to examine the contributing factors to disparities in maternal service utilization in Ethiopia. Mother's current age, household family size, region, birth order, and parity were contributors to maternal health service utilization.

CONCLUSION

The ANC service, delivery service and PNC service utilization showed a pro-rich distribution among Ethiopian women. Mother's current age, household family size, region, birth order, and parity are important contributors of maternal health service inequality. To improve access and usage among low-income women, policymakers can develop programs including increasing the number of free or subsidized services and providing transportation.

Utilization of maternal health facilities and rural women's well-being: towards the attainment of sustainable development goals

BACKGROUND

The sustenance of any household is tied to the well-being of the mother's health before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal health care has continued a downward slope, increasing maternal mortality in rural communities in Nigeria. Presently, few empirical findings connect maternal healthcare facilities' use to mothers' well-being in Nigeria. Using maternal health facilities and the well-being of rural women is crucial in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 3 (No poverty, zero hunger, good health, and well-being).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to examine the level of maternal healthcare utilization and its effect on mothers' well-being status among mothers in rural Nigeria.

METHODS

In this study, secondary data extracted from the Nigeria's 2018 National Demographic Health Survey was used. Data was analyzed with Multiple correspondence analysis, Fuzzy set analysis, and Extended ordered logit model.

RESULTS

Women in rural Nigeria were moderate users of maternal health care services and had moderate well-being indices (0.54 ± 0.2, 0.424 ± 0.2, respectively). Mothers' moderate well-being status was increased by using maternal health care facilities, having a larger household, and having mothers who worked exclusively in agriculture.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that mothers in rural Nigeria use maternal healthcare facilities moderately, and their well-being level was improved using maternal healthcare facilities. Therefore, Nigeria's Ministry of Health should raise awareness about the vitality of mothers using health care services before, during, and after pregnancy. In order to promote greater female participation in full-scale agricultural production, it is imperative for the Nigerian government to allocate substantial resources in the form of subsidies and incentives. The Nigerian government should source these resources from various channels, including expanded development cooperation. Additionally, policymakers should focus on designing developmental programmes specifically tailored for rural households and the health sector.

Multilevel analysis of determinants in postnatal care utilisation among mother-newborn pairs in India, 2019-21

Background

Postnatal care (PNC) utilisation within 24 hours of delivery is a critical component of health care services for mothers and newborns. While substantial geographic variations in various health outcomes have been documented in India, there remains a lack of understanding regarding PNC utilisation and underlying factors accounting for these geographic variations. In this study, we aimed to partition and explain the variation in PNC utilisation across multiple geographic levels in India.

Methods

Using India's 5th National Family Health Survey (2019-21), we conducted four-level logistic regression analyses to partition the total geographic variation in PNC utilisation by state, district, and cluster levels, and to quantify how much of theses variations are explained by a set of 12 demographic, socioeconomic, and pregnancy-related factors. We also conducted analyses stratified by selected states/union territories.

Results

Among 149 622 mother-newborn pairs, 82.29% of mothers and 84.92% of newborns were reported to have received PNC within 24 hours of delivery. In the null model, more than half (56.64%) of the total geographic variation in mother's PNC utilisation was attributed to clusters, followed by 26.06% to states/union territories, and 17.30% to districts. Almost 30% of the between-state variation in mother's PNC utilisation was explained by the demographic, socioeconomic, and pregnancy-related factors (i.e. state level variance reduced from 0.486 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.238, 0.735) to 0.320 (95% CI = 0.152, 0.488)). We observed consistent results for newborn's PNC utilisation. State-specific analyses showed substantial geographic variation attributed to clusters across all selected states/union territories.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the consistently large cluster variation in PNC utilisation that remains unexplained by compositional effects. Future studies should explore contextual drivers of cluster variation in PNC utilisation to inform and design interventions aimed to improve maternal and child health.

Comparison of Wealth-Related Inequality in Tetanus Vaccination Coverage before and during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 72 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Immunization of pregnant women against tetanus is a key strategy for reducing tetanus morbidity and mortality while also achieving the goal of maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. Despite substantial progress in improving newborn protection from tetanus at birth through maternal immunization, umbilical cord practices and sterilized and safe deliveries, inequitable gaps in protection remain. Notably, an infant's tetanus protection at birth is comprised of immunization received by the mother during and before the pregnancy (e.g., through childhood vaccination, booster doses, mass vaccination campaigns, or during prior pregnancies). In this work, we examine wealth-related inequalities in maternal tetanus toxoid containing vaccination coverage before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and at birth for 72 low- and middle-income countries with a recent Demographic and Health Survey or Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (between 2013 and 2022). We summarize coverage levels and absolute and relative inequalities at each time point; compare the relative contributions of inequalities before and during pregnancy to inequalities at birth; and examine associations between inequalities and coverage levels. We present the findings for countries individually and on aggregate, by World Bank country income grouping, as well as by maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination status, finding that most of the inequality in tetanus immunization coverage at birth is introduced during pregnancy. Inequalities in coverage during pregnancy are most pronounced in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and even more so in countries which have not achieved maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. These findings suggest that pregnancy is a key time of opportunity for equity-oriented interventions to improve maternal tetanus immunization coverage.

Explaining changes in educational disparities in competent maternal health care services in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia

Introduction

Aggregate statistics of maternal health care services have improved in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, the country has one of the lowest Universal Health Coverage (UHC) service coverage indices, with slight improvement between 2000 and 2019. There are disparity studies that focus on a single dimension of inequality. However, studies that combine multiple dimensions of inequality simultaneously may have important policy implications for closing inequalities. In this study, we investigated education inequalities in the receipt of maternal health care services in rural and urban areas separately, and we examined whether these inequalities decreased, increased, or remained unchanged.

Methods

The data for the study came from the 2011 and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys. Using women's education as a dimension of inequality, we separately analyzed inequalities in maternal health care services in urban and rural settings. Inequalities were measured through the Erreygers concentration index, second differences, and Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Whether inequalities changed over time was analyzed by relative and absolute measures. An Oaxaca-type decomposition approach was applied to explain changes in absolute disparities over time.

Results

There were glaring educational disparities in maternal health care services in urban and rural areas, where the services were more concentrated among women with better schooling. The disparities were more severe in urban than in rural areas. In urban areas, skilled birth service was the most unequal in both periods. Disparities in rural places were roughly similar for all services except that in 2011, postnatal care was the least unequal, and in 2016, skilled birth was the most unequal services. Trend analyses revealed that disparities significantly dropped in urban by absolute and relative measures. Conversely, in rural regions, the disparities grew by the concentration index measure for most services. The RII and second differences presented conflicting results regarding whether the gaps were increasing, shrinking, or remaining the same.

Conclusion

Substantial disparities in maternal health care services remained and even increased, as in rural areas. Different and targeted strategies are needed for urban and rural places to close the observed educational inequalities in these areas.

Trends of socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in severe wasting among under-five children in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2019: using the WHO Health Equity Assessment Toolkit

Severe wasting is the deadliest form of wasting caused by a lack of nutritious food and repeated attacks of illness. The World Health Assembly has agreed to reduce severe wasting to less than 5% and 3% by the end of 2025 and 2030. Significant disparities were observed worldwide in progress towards the goal. However, limited evidence of disparity in severe wasting was available in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess trends in socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in severe wasting among under-five children in Ethiopia between 2000 and 2019. The trend in socioeconomic and geographic inequality was assessed using the World Health Organization Health Equity Assessment Toolkit, employing both absolute and relative measures of inequality. Difference (D), ratio (R), slope index inequality (SII), relative concentration index (RCI), and population attributable ratio (PAR) were utilized to assess disparity across wealth, education, residence, and subnational regions. The 95% uncertainty interval (UI) was used to declare the significant change in inequality through time. The proportion of severe wasting increased from 3.8% to 4.7% between 2000 to 2005 and dropped to 2.9% in 2011 to remain constant until 2016. However, the proportion of severe wasting significantly declined to 1.1% in 2019. As indicated by RCI, significant fluctuation in wealth-related inequality was observed in all five survey years but a significant change in wealth-related inequality was observed in 2005 and 2019. Whereas the education-related inequality in RCI of severe wasting steadily increased from -8.8% in 2005 to -24.3% in 2019. And the change was significantly widened from 2011 to 2019. On the other hand, residence-related inequality of severe wasting was observed in 2000 in ratio, difference and PAR summary measures but disappeared in 2019. Between 2000 and 2016, regional inequalities in severe wasting fluctuated between 8.7 in 2005 to 5.9 in 2016 taking the difference as a measure of inequality. Overall, Wealth-related inequality has significantly widened over time with under five children from the richest households being less affected by severe wasting. Education-related inequality was not changed with under five children whose mothers had not attended formal education highly affected by severe wasting. Regional disparity in severe wasting is also exhibited in Ethiopia in all-round surveys with children from Addis Ababa being least affected whereas children from Somalia were highly affected by severe wasting. However, no significant disparity in the type of residence in severe wasting was revealed in Ethiopia. Therefore, special attention should be paid to under-five children living in the poorest households, whose mothers did not attend formal education and children living in Somalia region.

Spatial distribution of delayed initiation of antenatal care visits and associated factors among reproductive age women in Ethiopia: spatial and multilevel analysis of 2019 mini-demographic and health survey

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the spatial distribution, wealth-related inequality and determinants for delayed initiation of antenatal care (ANC) visits among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study design.

SETTING

Ethiopia.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 2924 reproductive-age women who had given birth in the 5 years preceding the survey.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Delayed initiation of ANC visits.

RESULTS

The magnitude of delayed initiation of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia was 62.63% (95% CI 60.86%, 64.37%). Women aged 35-49 (AOR=1.42; 95% CI 1.04, 1.94), being protestant religion followers (AOR=1.43; 95% CI 1.06, 1.94), being in higher wealth index (AOR=0.53; 95% CI 0.41, 0.69), living in rural residence (AOR=1.50; 95% CI 1.02, 2.19) and living in the metropolitan region (AOR=0.45; 95% CI 0.26, 0.77) were significantly associated with delayed initiation of ANC visit. Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Somalia, Benishangul Gumuz, Southern Addis Ababa and Gambella regions were hot spot regions for delayed initiation of ANC visits. The SaTScan analysis result identified 107 primary clusters of delayed initiation of ANC visits located in regions of SNNPR, Gambella, Southern Addis Ababa, Eastern Oromia and Benishangul Gumuz.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant spatial clustering of delayed initiation of ANC visits was observed in Ethiopia. More than half of women had delayed initiation of ANC visits in Ethiopia. Women's age, religion, wealth index, residence and region were significant predictors of delayed initiation of ANC visits. There is a disproportional pro-poor distribution of delayed initiation of ANC visits in Ethiopia. Therefore, interventions should be designed in the hot spot areas where delayed initiation of ANC visits was high to enhance the timely initiation of ANC visits.

Process Evaluation of Health System Responsiveness Level and Associated Factors Among Mothers Gave Birth at Obstetric Ward in a Tertiary Hospital, Southwest of Ethiopia: Mixed Study Methods

Background

The term responsiveness emerged during the World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2000 as new and essential goals of the health systems to meet the needs of people to their expectations from different services being given in healthcare systems. Obstetric violence and childbirth mistreatment are global problems, but the worst obstetric violence usually occurs in underdeveloped countries. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness of obstetric service at Jimma University Medical Center.

Methods

A single-case study design with quantitative and qualitative data collection was employed. Availability with 17 indicators and health system responsiveness with 24 indicators were used. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select the clients and qualitative data were collected from key informants. SPSS version 25 was used for the analysis of quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data. A multiple linear regression model was fitted after all assumptions were checked and fit to ensure the relation of the dependent variable with independent variables.

Results

The overall evaluation was 75.6% and judged good. The resource availability and health system responsiveness were 85.5% and 69.7%, which were judged very good and fair, respectively. A stethoscope and thermometer were not available, while 40% glucose, dexamethasone, and intravenous fluid were the most frequently stocked-out supplies. Dignity (72.1%), confidentiality (71.4%), and prompt attention (70%) were the top three good scores for the health system's responsiveness. Health system responsiveness significantly associated with the following: Not attending formal education, attending college and above, place of delivery (health center), mode of delivery (cesarean section), and being merchant.

Conclusion & Recommendation

The health system responsiveness of delivery service in study setting was good. All stakeholders should work for improving the health system's responsiveness in delivery service.

Completion of the Continuum of Maternity Care in the Emerging Regions of Ethiopia: Analysis of the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey

Maternal mortality in Ethiopia was estimated to be 267 per 100,000 live births in 2020. A significant number of maternal deaths occur in the emerging regions of the country: Afar, Somali, Gambela, and Benishangul-Gumuz. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target requires a dramatic increase in maternal healthcare utilisation during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Yet, there is a paucity of evidence on the continuum of maternity care utilisation in Ethiopia, particularly in the emerging regions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess completion and factors associated with the continuum of maternity care in the emerging regions of Ethiopia. This study used the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data (n = 1431). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with the completion of the continuum of maternity care. An adjustment was made to the survey design (weight, stratification, and clustering). 9.5% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.0-13.0) of women completed the continuum of maternity care (four or more antenatal care, institutional delivery, and postnatal care within 24 h). Living in Somali (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 0.23, 95%CI: 0.07-0.78) and Benishangul-Gumuz (aOR 3.41, 95%CI: 1.65-7.04) regions, having a secondary and higher educational level (aOR 2.12, 95%CI: 1.13-4.00), and being in the richest wealth quintile (aOR 4.55, 95%CI: 2.04-10.15) were factors associated with completion of the continuum of maternity care. Although nearly half of the women had one antenatal care, fewer than 10% completed the continuum of maternity care. This indicates that women in these regions are not getting the maximum health benefits from maternal healthcare services, and this might contribute to the high maternal death in the regions. Moreover, the completion of the continuum of maternity care was skewed toward women who are more educated (secondary or higher education) and in the richest quintile.

The uptake of WHO-recommended birth preparedness and complication readiness messages during pregnancy and its determinants among Ethiopian women: A multilevel mixed-effect analyses of 2016 demographic health survey

Background

Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a package of interventions recommended by the World Health Organization to improve maternal and newborn health and it is provided and implemented through a focused antenatal care program. This study aimed at assessing the uptake of birth preparedness and complication readiness messages, and compliance with each key message, among Ethiopian women during their recent pregnancies using the 2016 demographic health survey report.

Methods

The data for this study was taken from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, which was conducted from January to June 2016 and covered all administrative regions. STATA version 16 was used to analyze a total of 4,712 (with a weighted frequency of 4,771.49) women. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic, and multilevel mixed-effect negative binomial regressions were fitted, respectively. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and Incidence rate ratio (IRR) with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to report significant determinants.

Results

More than half, 56.02% [95% CI: 54.58, 57.41] of women received at least one birth preparedness and complication readiness message. Being in the richest wealth quintiles (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.43, 3.73), having two birth/s in the last five years (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.10), receiving four or more antenatal visits(AOR = 3.33; 95% CI: 2.49, 4.45), and reading a newspaper at least once a week (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.65) were the individual‑level factors, whereas regions and residence(AOR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.96) were the community-level factors associated with the uptake of at least one BPCR message. On the other hand, receiving four or more antenatal visits (IRR = 2.78; 95% CI: 2.09, 3.71), getting permission to go to a health facility (IRR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.028, 1.38), and not covered by health insurance schemes (IRR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.95) were identified as significant predictors of receiving key birth preparedness and complication readiness messages.

Conclusion

The overall uptake of the WHO-recommended birth readiness and complication readiness message and compliance with each message in Ethiopia was found to be low. Managers and healthcare providers in the health sector must work to increase the number of antenatal visits. Policymakers should prioritize the implementation of activities and interventions that increase women’s autonomy in decision-making, job opportunity, and economic capability to enhance their health-seeking behavior. The local administrative bodies should also work to enhance household enrollment in health insurance schemes.

Socioeconomic inequality in modern contraceptive utilization among reproductive-age women in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis

INTRODUCTION

Family planning services allow individuals to achieve desired birth spacing, family size, and contribute to improved health outcomes for infants, children, women, and families, and prevent unintended pregnancy. Births resulting from unintended pregnancies can have negative consequences Children from unintended pregnancies are more likely to experience poor mental and physical health during childhood. Even though many international organizations work to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, reproductive health service utilization is concentrated among individuals with rich socioeconomic status. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequality in modern contraceptive utilization and its contributors in sub-Saharan African countries.

METHODS

A total of 466,282 weighted reproductive-aged women samples from DHS data SSA countries were included in the study. Erreygers normalized concentration index and its concentration curve were used to assess socioeconomic-related inequality in modern contraceptive utilization. Decomposition analysis was performed to identify factors contributing to socioeconomic-related inequality.

RESULTS

The weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index for modern contraceptive utilization was 0.079 with Standard error = 0.0013 (P value< 0.0001); indicating that There is small amount but statistically significant pro rich distribution of wealth related in equalities of modern contraceptive utilization among reproductive age women. The decomposition analysis revealed that mass media exposure, wealth index., place of residency, and distance of health facility were the major contributors to the pro-rich socioeconomic inequalities in modern contraceptive utilization.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

In this study, there is a small amount but statistically significant pro rich distribution of modern contraceptive utilization. Therefore, give priority to modifiable factors such as promoting the accessibility of health facilities, media exposure of the household, and improving their country's economy to a higher economic level to improve the wealth status of the population.

Socioeconomic Inequality in Knowledge About HIV and Its Contributing Factors Among Women of Reproductive Age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multicountry and Decomposition Analysis

Aim

To examine the socioeconomic inequality in knowledge about HIV and its contributing factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

We have used the most recent demographic and health survey data of the 15 sub-Saharan African countries. 204,495 women of reproductive age made up the entire weighted sample. Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) was utilized to evaluate socioeconomic inequality in knowledge about HIV. The variables that contributed to the observed socioeconomic inequality were determined using decomposition analysis.

Results

We found the pro-rich inequality in knowledge about HIV (the weighted ECI was 0.16 with a Standard error = 0.007 and P value< 0.001). The decomposition analysis indicated that educational status (46.10%), wealth status (30.85%), listening to the radio (21.73%), and reading newspapers (7.05%) were among the contributors to the pro-rich socioeconomic inequalities in knowledge about HIV.

Conclusion

Having knowledge about HIV is concentrated among rich reproductive-age women. Educational status, wealth status, and media exposure were the major contributors and should be a priority for interventions to reduce the inequality in knowledge about HIV.

Benefits, barriers and enablers of maternity waiting homes utilization in Ethiopia: an integrative review of national implementation experience to date

Background

Though Ethiopia has expanded Maternity Waiting Homes (MWHs) to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, the utilization rate is low. To maximize the use of MWH, policymakers must be aware of the barriers and benefits of using MWH. This review aimed to describe the evidence on the barriers and benefits to access and use of MWHs in Ethiopia.

Methods

Data were sourced from PubMed, Google Scholars and Dimensions. Thirty-one studies were identified as the best evidence for inclusion in this review. We adopted an integrative review process based on the five-stage process proposed by Whittemore and Knafl.

Results

The key themes identified were the benefits, barriers and enablers of MWH utilization with 10 sub-themes. The themes about benefits of MWHs were lower incidence rate of perinatal death and complications, the low incidence rate of maternal complications and death, and good access to maternal health care. The themes associated with barriers to staying at MWH were distance, transportation, financial costs (higher out-of-pocket payments), the physical aspects of MWHs, cultural constraints and lack of awareness regarding MWHs, women’s perceptions of the quality of care at MWHs, and poor provider interaction to women staying at MWH. Enablers to pregnant women to stay at MWHs were availability of MWHs which are attached with obstetric services with quality and compassionate care.

Conclusion

This study synthesized research evidence on MWH implementation, aiming to identify benefits, barriers, and enablers for MWH implementation in Ethiopia. Despite the limited and variable evidence, the implementation of the MWH strategy is an appropriate strategy to improve access to skilled birth attendance in rural Ethiopia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04954-y.

Decomposing maternal socioeconomic inequalities in Zimbabwe; leaving no woman behind

Background

Several studies in the literature have shown the existence of large disparities in the use of maternal health services by socioeconomic status (SES) in developing countries. The persistence of the socioeconomic disparities is problematic, as the global community is currently advocating for not leaving anyone behind in attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, health care facilities in developing countries continue to report high maternal deaths. Improved accessibility and strengthening of quality in the uptake of maternal health services (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) plays an important role in reducing maternal deaths which eventually leads to the attainment of SDG 3, Good Health, and Well-being.

Methods

This study used the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) of 2015. The ZDHS survey used the principal components analysis in estimating the economic status of households. We computed binary logistic regressions on maternal health services attributes (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) against demographic characteristics. Furthermore, concentration indices were then used to measure of socio-economic inequalities in the use of maternal health services, and the Erreygers decomposable concentration index was then used to identify the factors that contributed to the socio-economic inequalities in maternal health utilization in Zimbabwe.

Results

Overall maternal health utilization was skilled birth attendance (SBA), 93.63%; antenatal-care (ANC) 76.33% and postnatal-care (PNC) 84.27%. SBA and PNC utilization rates were significantly higher than the rates reported in the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey. Residence status was a significant determinant for antenatal care with rural women 2.25 times (CI: 1.55–3.27) more likely to utilize ANC. Richer women were less likely to utilize skilled birth attendance services [OR: 0.20 (CI: 0.08–0.50)] compared to women from the poorest households. While women from middle-income households [OR: 1.40 (CI: 1.03–1.90)] and richest households [OR: 2.36 (CI: 1.39–3.99)] were more likely to utilize antenatal care services compared to women from the poorest households. Maternal service utilization among women in Zimbabwe was pro-rich, meaning that maternal health utilization favoured women from wealthy households [SBA (0.05), ANC (0.09), PNC (0.08)]. Wealthy women were more likely to be assisted by a doctor, while midwives were more likely to assist women from poor households [Doctor (0.22), Midwife (− 0.10)].

Conclusion

Decomposition analysis showed household wealth, husband’s education, women’s education, and residence status as important positive contributors of the three maternal health service (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) utilization outcomes. Educating women and their spouses on the importance of maternal health services usage is significant to increase maternal health service utilization and consequently reduce maternal mortality.

Changes in Inequality in Use of Maternal Health Care Services: Evidence from Skilled Birth Attendance in Mauritania for the Period 2007-2015

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.

Trends of Inequalities in Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Ethiopia: Evidence from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys, 2000-2016

Background

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a costless practice with numerous neonates' survival benefits. Thus, any disparity results in an unacceptably high neonatal death rate but socioeconomic disparities on EIBF have not been well explored in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the socioeconomic inequalities of EIBF in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2016.

Methods

The Ethiopian demographic and health survey data and the World Health Organization's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit were used to investigate the inequalities in EIBF across the wealth quintile, education, residence, and subnational region. Difference, ratio, slope index inequality (SII), relative index inequality (RII), and population attributable risk (PAR) were used as equity summary measures.

Results

In Ethiopia, EIBF practice was 47.4% in 2000, 66.2% in 2005, 51.5% in 2011, and 73.3% in 2016. Wealth-related inequality was observed in the 2000, 2005, and 2011 survey years with SII of -7.1%, -8.8%, and 8.7%, respectively, whereas educational-related inequality was observed in 2005 and 2011 with SII of -11.7% and 6.5%, respectively. However, significant change in wealth-, education-, and residence-related inequalities was detected in 2011. Regional inequality on EIBF was observed in all survey years with a difference of 35.7%, 38.0%, 29.1%, and 48.5% in the 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016 survey years, respectively. But a significant change in regional inequality was noted in 2016 with a PAR of 17.2%.

Conclusions

In Ethiopia, the wealth-, residence-, and educational-related inequalities of EIBF increased significantly between the years 2000 and 2011. However, regional inequality persistently increased from 2000 to 2016. Overall, one-sixth of the national level EIBF was decreased due to regional disparity in 2016. The northern regions of Ethiopia (Tigray, Afar, and Amhara) poorly performed compared to the peer regions. Therefore, interventions targeting them would significantly improve the national level of EIBF.

Sub-regional disparities in the use of antenatal care service in Mauritania: findings from nationally representative demographic and health surveys (2011-2015)

Background

Skilled antenatal care (ANC) has been identified as a proven intervention to reducing maternal deaths. Despite improvements in maternal health outcomes globally, some countries are signaling increased disparities in ANC services among disadvantaged sub-groups. Mauritania is one of sub-Saharan countries in Africa with a high maternal mortality ratio. Little is known about the inequalities in the country’s antenatal care services. This study examined both the magnitude and change from 2011 to 2015 in socioeconomic and geographic-related disparities in the utilization of at least four antenatal care visits in Mauritania.

Methods

Using the World Health Organization’s Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software, data from the 2011 and 2015 Mauritania Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) were analyzed. The inequality analysis consisted of disaggregated rates of antenatal care utilization using four equity stratifiers (economic status, education, residence, and region) and four summary measures (Difference, Population attributable risk, Ratio and Population attributable fraction). A 95% Uncertainty Interval was constructed around point estimates to measure statistical significance.

Results

Substantial absolute and relative socioeconomic and geographic related disparities in attending four or more ANC visits (ANC4+ utilization) were observed favoring women who were richest/rich (PAR = 19.5, 95% UI; 16.53, 22.43), educated (PAF = 7.3 95% UI; 3.34, 11.26), urban residents (D = 19, 95% UI; 14.50, 23.51) and those living in regions such as Nouakchott (R = 2.1, 95% UI; 1.59, 2.56). While education-related disparities decreased, wealth-driven and regional disparities remained constant over the 4 years of the study period. Urban-rural inequalities were constant except with the PAR measure, which showed an increasing pattern.

Conclusion

A disproportionately lower ANC4+ utilization was observed among women who were poor, uneducated, living in rural areas and regions such as Guidimagha. As a result, policymakers need to design interventions that will enable disadvantaged subpopulations to benefit from ANC4+ utilization to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 140/100, 000 live births by 2030.

Levels of mother-to-child HIV transmission knowledge and associated factors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: Analysis of 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey Data

BACKGROUND

The world community has committed to eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Even though different studies have been done in Ethiopia, to the knowledge of the investigators, the Ethiopian women's level of knowledge on the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus is not well studied and the existing evidence is inconclusive. The current study is aimed to study the Ethiopian women's level of knowledge on the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and its associated factors using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey Data.

METHODS

Data of 15,683 women were extracted from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive statistics and multilevel ordinal logistic regression were respectively used for the descriptive and analytical studies.

RESULTS

41.1% [95% CI: 39.5%, 42.7%] of the Ethiopian reproductive-age women have adequate knowledge of the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. 77%, 84% and 87.8% of the women respectively know that human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. There are wider regional variations in the women's level of knowledge of the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Being an urban resident, having better educational status, being from a wealthy household, owning of mobile phone, frequency of listening to the radio, frequency of watching television, and being visited with field workers were significantly associated with having adequate knowledge of the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.

CONCLUSION

Despite all collective measures put in a place by different stakeholders to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Ethiopia, a large proportion of the Ethiopian women do not know about the mother-to-child transmission of the disease. Stakeholders working on HIV prevention and control should give due emphasis to promoting mobile phone technology and other media like radio and television by giving due focus to rural residents and poor women to promote the current low level of the knowledge. Emphasis should also be given to the information, education, and communication of the mother-to-child transmission of the disease through community-based educations.

Changes in Levels and Determinants of Maternal Health Service Utilization in Ethiopia: Comparative Analysis of Two Rounds Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys

BACKGROUND

Antenatal care (ANC), delivery by skilled birth attendants, and postnatal care (PNC) are critical components of maternal health services for reducing maternal mortality. The study aimed to compare the utilization of maternal health services in the two most recent rounds of Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) and identify the factors influencing the utilization of these services using the 2016 EDHS.

METHODS

Two rounds of EDHS data in 2011 and 2016 were used to estimate the proportion of women who had ANC, delivered by skilled birth attendants, and had a postnatal checkup and other characteristics of the surveyed population. The most recent round of data-the 2016 EDHS-was used to examine the socio-cultural and reproductive health factors associated with the three maternal health services utilization. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) were conducted using Stata 15.0.

RESULTS

The use of ANC services and skilled birth attendants increased significantly between 2011 and 2016 EDHS, utilization of ANC services increased from 34.0 to 65.5%, and use of skilled birth attendants increased from 11.7 to 35.9%, respectively. The use of postnatal care decreased from 9.3 to 6.9%. Utilization of maternal health service was significantly associated with urban residence, Protestant religion, Oromo ethnicity, more education, more household wealth, and less parity. Furthermore, women who had ANC visits during pregnancy were more likely to subsequently use skilled birth attendants (AOR 5.5, p < 0.001) and PNC (AOR 2.9, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted the inequalities in the utilization of maternal health services between rural and urban areas, and the need of addressing the social, economic, and physical barriers that prevent women from using these services. Further, programs should be targeted at promoting the use of professional birth and postnatal services in Ethiopia.

Inequitable Utilization of Neonatal Health Services in Southwest Ethiopia: The Effects of Socioeconomic Disparities

Low levels of neonatal health services utilization and high neonatal deaths are often concentrated among socially and economically disadvantaged groups, especially in low-income countries. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess inequity in the use of neonatal health services in Southwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 districts located in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia from 19 March to 28 April 2018. A total of 835 mothers were included in the study with systematic random sampling. Principal component analysis was conducted to develop wealth quintiles of the households. Equity in neonatal health services was measured using rate-ratio, concentration curve, concentration index, and analyzed by binary logistic regression. Neonates from richer families were 1.25 times more likely to use neonatal health services than the poorer households with a concentration index value of 0.07. Neonates from highly educated mothers have better used the services and the corresponding concentration index value of 0.03. Neonatal service utilization was 1.32 times higher in the highest wealth quintile in rural settings. Similarly, services delivered at health posts and hospitals were used 2.4 and 2 times more by the wealthy, whereas services given at health centers are more utilized by the poorest. Outputs of binary logistic regression analysis indicated that neonates from middle quintile wealth households were found to be better neonatal health service users [AOR_1.72, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.82]. Neonate born from a secondary school attended mother [AOR_3.56, 95% CI: 1.90, 6.69] were more likely to use neonatal health services. Neonatal health service utilization in Southwest Ethiopia is more common among neonates from richer households and more educated mothers. There is a big difference among the wealthy and poorer in a rural setting and among those who used health posts. Working on the social-determinants of health will facilitate eliminating inequity.

Twelve-year persistence of inequalities in antenatal care utilisation among women in Tanzania: a decomposition analysis of population-based cross-sectional surveys

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to assess the trend and contributors of socioeconomic inequalities in antenatal care (ANC) utilisation among women of reproductive age in Tanzania from 2004 to 2016.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional surveys.

SETTING

This study analysed nationally representative data for women of reproductive age obtained from the 2004-2016 Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

The outcome variables analysed in this study are: (1) attendance of ANC and (2) accessing adequate antenatal care.

ANALYTICAL METHODS

The concentration curve and the concentration index were used to measure socioeconomic inequality in attending and accessing adequate ANC. The concentration index was decomposed to identify the factors explaining the observed socioeconomic inequality of these two outcomes.

RESULTS

The concentration index for attending at least four ANC visits increased from 0.169 in 2004 to 0.243 in 2016 (p<0.01). Similarly, for accessing adequate care, the index increased from 0.147 in 2004 to 0.355 in 2016 (p<0.01). This indicates the significant increase in socioeconomic inequalities (favouring wealthier women) for these two outcomes over time. Furthermore, the results show that wealth status was the largest contributor to inequality in both attending at least four visits (71%, 50% and 70%) and accessing adequate ANC (50%, 42% and 51%) in 2004, 2010 and 2016, respectively, in favour of wealthier women (p<0.05). The other contributors to socioeconomic inequalities in ANC utilisation were maternal education and type of residence.

CONCLUSION

Over the 12 years of surveys, there was no reduction in socioeconomic inequalities in ANC utilisation in Tanzania. Therefore, the efforts of achieving universal health coverage should focus on reducing wealth-related inequality and improving women's education from poor households.

Addressing the huge poor-rich gap of inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care: A first step to achieving universal maternal health coverage in Tanzania

Introduction

Despite skilled attendance during childbirth has been linked with the reduction of maternal deaths, equality in accessing this safe childbirth care is highly needed to achieving universal maternal health coverage. However, little information is available regarding the extent of inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care in Tanzania. This study was performed to assess the current extent, trend, and potential contributors of poor-rich inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care among women in Tanzania.

Methods

This study used data from 2004, 2010, and 2016 Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys. The two maternal health services 1) institutional delivery and 2) skilled birth attendance was used to measures access to safe childbirth care. The inequalities were assessed by using concentration curves and concentration indices. The decomposition analysis was computed to identify the potential contributors to the inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care.

Results

A total of 8725, 8176, and 10052 women between 15 and 49 years old from 2004, 2010, and 2016 surveys respectively were included in the study. There is an average gap (>50%) between the poorest and richest in accessing safe childbirth care during the study period. The concentration curves were below the line of inequality which means women from rich households have higher access to the institutional delivery and skilled birth attendance inequalities in accessing institutional delivery and skilled birth attendance. These were also, confirmed with their respective positive concentration indices. The decomposition analysis was able to unveil that household’s wealth status, place of residence, and maternal education as the major contributors to the persistent inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care.

Conclusion

The calls for an integrated policy approach which includes fiscal policies, social protection, labor market, and employment policies need to improve education and wealth status for women from poor households. This might be the first step toward achieving universal maternal health coverage.

Time to initiation of antenatal care and its predictors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: Cox-gamma shared frailty model

Background

Timely initiating antenatal care (ANC) is crucial in the countries that have high maternal morbidity and mortality. However, in developing countries including Ethiopia, pregnant mother’s time to initiate antenatal care was not well-studied. Therefore, this study aimed to assess time to first ANC and its predictors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 7,543 pregnant women in Ethiopia using the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS), 2016 data. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling was employed. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method was used to estimate time to first antenatal care visit. Cox-gamma shared frailty model was applied to determine predictors. Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with 95% confidence interval was reported as the effect size. Model adequacy was assessed by using the Cox-Snell residual plot. Statistical significance was considered at p value <0.05. For data management and analysis Stata 14 was used.

Results

The median time to first ANC was 5 months with IQR (3,-). The independent predictors of time to first ANC visit were primary education [AHR: 1.24 (95%CI, 1.13–1.35)], secondary education [AHR: 1.28(95% CI, 1.11–1.47)], higher education [AHR: 1.43 (1.19–1.72)] as compared to women with no formal education. Having media exposure [AHR: 1.13 (95% CI, 1.03–1.24)], early initiation of ANC increases by 25% [AHR: 1.25 (95% CI, 1.12–1.40)] in poorer, 32% [AHR: 1.32 (95% CI, 1.17–1.49)] in middle, 37% [AHR: 1.37 (95% CI, 1.20–1.56)] in richer and 41% [AHR: 1.41 (95%CI, 1.1.19–1.67)] in richest households as compared to poorest household wealth index. Living in city administration, media exposure and community women literacy were also enabler factors, while, long distance from health facility and nomadic region residency were hindering factors of early ANC visit.

Conclusions

The current study revealed that women’s time to first antenatal care visit was by far late in Ethiopia as compared to the world health organization recommendation (WHO). The predictors of time to first ANC visit were education status of women, having media exposure, level of household wealth index, community women literacy ad distance to health facility. It is vital that maternal and child health policies and strategies better to be directed at women development and also designing and applying interventions that intended to increase timely initiation ANC among pregnant-women. Researchers also recommended conducting studies using a stronger design like a cohort to establish temporality and reduce biases.

Decomposing educational inequality in maternal mortality in Iran

Given the significance of educational equality as one of the key social determinants of health in maternal health outcomes, the present study aimed to assess maternal mortality inequality and its main contributors based on the level of education amongst mothers living in Isfahan, Iran. In this case-control study, all 171 maternal deaths in the Isfahan Province during 2001-2016 were taken from the national maternal mortality surveillance system (as a case group). For the control group, 523 mothers who were alive were selected from 22 health centers located in 21 cities in the province of Isfahan. Concentration index and curve were used to measure educational inequality in maternal mortality. The chi-square test was used to select explanatory social and health variables to enter the decomposition model. The analyses were performed with STATA 12. Social and healthcare factors accounted for 43.57% and 23.44% of educational inequality, respectively. The normalized maternal mortality concentration index was -0.13 (95% CI, -0.10 to -0.02). Among the social factors, the mother's education level (38.14%) and immigrant status (25.39%) contributed the most to educational inequality. Regarding healthcare factors, proximate medical causes (14.49%) and the number of pregnancies (9.72%) had the highest contribution. Maternal mortality has been distributed unequally among the less and more educated mothers in Iran, which suggests that promoting health literacy is imperative, especially for women with lower education levels.

Spatial distribution and factors associated with low birth weight in Ethiopia using data from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016: spatial and multilevel analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the spatial distribution, individual and community-level factors associated with low birth weight in Ethiopia.

METHOD

Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. A total of 2110 neonates were included in this study. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was conducted to assess the spatial clustering of LBW. Besides, the spatial scan statistics and ordinary kriging interpolation were done to detect the local level clusters and to assess predicted risk areas, respectively. Furthermore, a multilevel logistic regression model was fitted to determine individual and community-level factors associated with LBW. Finally, most likely clusters with log-likelihood ratio (LLR), relative risk and p value from spatial scan statistics and adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI for multilevel logistic regression model were reported.

RESULTS

LBW was spatially clustered in Ethiopia. Primary (LLR=11.57; p=0.002) clusters were detected in the Amhara region. Neonates within this spatial window had a 2.66 times higher risk of being LBW babies as compared with those outside the window. Besides, secondary (LLR=11.4; p=0.003; LLR=10.14, p=0.0075) clusters were identified at southwest Oromia, north Oromia, south Afar and southeast Amhara regions. Neonates who were born from severely anaemic (AOR=1.40, 95% CI (1.03 to 2.15)), and uneducated (AOR=1.90, 95% CI (1.23 to 2.93)) mothers, those who were born before 37 weeks of gestation (AOR=5.97, 95% CI (3.26 to 10.95)) and women (AOR=1.41, 95% CI (1.05 to 1.89)), had significantly higher odds of being LBW babies.

CONCLUSION

The high-risk areas of LBW were detected in Afar, Amhara and Oromia regions. Therefore, targeting the policy interventions in those hotspot areas and focusing on the improvement of maternal education, strengthening anaemia control programmes and elimination of modifiable causes of prematurity could be vital for reducing the LBW disparity in Ethiopia.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Maternal HealthCare Utilisation in Zambia: 1997-2014

This study aims at exploring the trends and socioeconomic inequalities in the use of maternal healthcare utilization between 1997 and 2014. Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate regression methods. Women in the higher wealth quintiles (Q4 and Q5) generally had higher prevalence of using health facility delivery and postnatal care services compared with those in the lower wealth quintiles (Q1 and Q2), whereas the prevalence of timely and adequate antenatal care visit was comparatively higher among those in the lower wealth quintiles. Findings indicated important sociodemographic inequalities in using maternal healthcare services, addressing which may help promote the utilization of these services.

Correlates of antenatal care utilization among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from multinomial analysis of demographic and health surveys (2010-2018) from 31 countries

Background

Despite a global reduction of about 38% in maternal mortality rate between 2000 and 2017, sub-Saharan Africa is still experiencing high mortality among women. Access to high quality care before, during and after childbirth has been described as one of the effective means of reducing such mortality. In the sub-region, only 52% of women receive at least four antenatal visits. This study examined the factors influencing antenatal care utilization in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

Data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 31 countries involving 235,207 women age 15–49 years who had given birth to children within 5 years of the surveys were used in the study. Multinomial logistic regression model was applied in the analysis.

Results

About 13% of women in sub-Saharan Africa did not utilize antenatal care while 35 and 53% respectively partially and adequately utilized the service. Adequate utilization of antenatal care was highest among women age 25–34 years (53.9%), with secondary or higher education (71.3%) and from the richest households (54.4%). The odds of adequate antenatal care utilization increased for women who are educated up to secondary or higher education level, from richest households, working, living in urban areas, exposed to media and did not experience problem getting to health facility or obtaining permission to visit health facility.

Conclusions

This study has revealed information not only on women who did not utilize antenatal care but also on women who partially and adequately utilized the service. The study concluded that the correlates of antenatal care utilization in sub-Saharan Africa include socioeconomic and demographic factors, getting permission to visit health facility, unwillingness to visit health facility alone and problem encountered in reaching the health facility.

Trends and determinants of an acceptable antenatal care coverage in Ethiopia, evidence from 2005-2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey; Multivariate decomposition analysis

Background

an acceptable antenatal care (ANC4+) is defined as attending at least four antenatal care visit, received at least one dose of tetanus toxoid (TT) injections and consumed 100 iron-folic acids (IFA) tablets/syrup during the last pregnancy. Since maternal health care service utilization continues to be an essential indicator for monitoring the improvements of maternal and child health outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the trends and determinants that contributed to the change in an acceptable antenatal care visit over the last 10 years in Ethiopia.

Methods

Nationally representative repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted using 2005, 2011, and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey datasets. The data were weighted and analyzed by STATA 14.1 software. Multivariate decomposition regression analysis was used to identify factors that contribute for the change in an acceptable antenatal care visit. A p-value < 0.05 was taken to declare statistically significant predictors to acceptable antenatal care visit.

Results

among the reproductive age women the rate of an acceptable antenatal care visits was increased from 16% in 2005 to 35% in 2016 in Ethiopia. In the multivariate decomposition analysis, about 29% of the increase in acceptable antenatal care visit was due to a difference in composition of women (endowments) across the surveys. Residence, religion, husband educational attainment, and wealth status was the main source of compositional change factors for the improvements of an acceptable antenatal care visit. Almost two-thirds of an overall change in acceptable antenatal care visit was due to the difference in coefficients/ change in behavior of the population. Religion, educational attainment (both women and husband), and residence are significantly contributed to the change in full antenatal care visit in Ethiopia over the last decades.

Conclusion

Besides the relevance of receiving an acceptable antenatal care visit for pregnant women and their babies, an acceptable antenatal care visit was slightly increased over time in Ethiopia. Women’s characteristics and behavior change were significantly associated with the change in acceptable antenatal care visits. Public interventions needed to improve acceptable antenatal care coverage, women’s education, and further advancing of health care facilities in rural communities should be done to maintain the further improvements acceptable antenatal care visits.

Inequities in the Uptake of Reproductive and Maternal Health Services in the Biggest Regional State of Ethiopia: Too Far from "Leaving No One Behind"

Background

Despite improvement in the coverage of most maternal, newborn, and child health services, inequality in the uptake of services still remains the challenge of health systems in most developing countries. This study was conducted to examine the degree of inequities and potential predictors of inequity in reproductive and maternal health services utilization in the Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Methods

The 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data set was used. Utilization rate of four maternal health service categories (family planning, antenatal care, facility based delivery and postnatal care) was considered in the analysis. Equity in each of these indicators was assessed by residence (urban/rural), wealth index, and educational status. Inequality in service utilization was estimated using rate ratios, concentration curve, and concentration indices.

Results

Overall data of 5701 women were used in this analysis. The concentration index to all of the maternal health service utilization indicators showed significance. The concentration index of family planning, antenatal care, facility based delivery, and postnatal care was 0.136 (95% CI=0.099–0.173), 0.106 (95% CI=0.035–0.177), 0.348 (95% CI=0.279–0.418), and 0.348 (95% CI=0.279–0.418), respectively. Maternal age and all of the three socio-demographic factors (residence, education, and wealth) showed inequitable distribution of maternal health service utilization in the Oromia region. The majority of women who were in the favored groups utilized the key reproductive and maternal health services.

Conclusion

The utilization of maternal health services in the study area is grossly skewed to those who are well off, educated, and live in urban areas. Any action intended to improve utilization of maternal and child health services should aim to reduce the unnecessary and avoidable disparity demonstrated in our analysis. This of course demands multisectoral intervention to impact on the determinants.

Socioeconomic inequality in short birth interval in Ethiopia: a decomposition analysis

BACKGROUND

Short birth interval, defined as a birth-to-birth interval less than 33 months, is associated with adverse maternal and child outcomes. Evidence regarding the association of maternal socioeconomic status and short birth interval is inconclusive. Factors contributing to the socioeconomic inequality of short birth interval have also not been investigated. The current study assessed socioeconomic inequality in short birth interval and its contributing factors in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Data from 8448 women collected in the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health survey were included in the study. Socioeconomic inequality in short birth interval was the outcome variable. Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) and concentration curves were used to measure and illustrate socioeconomic-related inequality in short birth interval, respectively. Decomposition analysis was performed to identify factors explaining the socioeconomic-related inequality in short birth interval.

RESULTS

The Erreygers normalized concentration index for short birth interval was - 0.0478 (SE = 0.0062) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.0001); indicating that short birth interval was more concentrated among the poor. Decomposition analysis indicated that wealth quintiles (74.2%), administrative regions (26.4%), and not listening to the radio (5.6%) were the major contributors to the pro-poor socioeconomic inequalities in short birth interval.

CONCLUSION

There was a pro-poor inequality of short birth interval in Ethiopia. Strengthening the implementation of poverty alleviation programs may improve the population's socioeconomic status and reduce the associated inequality in short birth interval.

Geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in Nigeria: 2003-2017

Background

Maternal mortality has remained a challenge in many low-income countries, especially in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. This study examines the geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization in Nigeria over the period between 2003 and 2017.

Methods

The study used four rounds of Nigeria Demographic Health Surveys (DHS, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018) for women aged 15–49 years old. The rate ratios and differences (RR and RD) were used to measure differences between urban and rural areas in terms of the utilization of the three maternal healthcare services including antenatal care (ANC), facility-based delivery (FBD), and skilled-birth attendance (SBA). The Theil index (T), between-group variance (BGV) were used to measure relative and absolute inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The relative and absolute concentration index (RC and AC) were used to measure education-and wealth-related inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare services.

Results

The RD shows that the gap in the utilization of FBD between urban and rural areas significantly increased by 0.3% per year over the study period. The Theil index suggests a decline in relative inequalities in ANC and FBD across the six geopolitical zones by 7, and 1.8% per year, respectively. The BGV results do not suggest any changes in absolute inequalities in ANC, FBD, and SBA utilization across the geopolitical zones over time. The results of the RC and the AC suggest a persistently higher concentration of maternal healthcare use among well-educated and wealthier mothers in Nigeria over the study period.

Conclusion

We found that the utilization of maternal healthcare is lower among poorer and less-educated women, as well as those living in rural areas and North West and North East geopolitical zones. Thus, the focus should be on implementing strategies that increase the uptake of maternal healthcare services among these groups.

Socioeconomic and geographic variations in antenatal care coverage in Angola: further analysis of the 2015 demographic and health survey

BACKGROUND

In African countries, including Angola, antenatal care (ANC) coverage is suboptimal and maternal mortality is still high due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. There is evidence of disparities in the uptake of ANC services, however, little is known about both the socio-economic and geographic-based disparity in the use of ANC services in Angola. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of socio-economic, urban-rural and subnational inequality in ANC coverage in Angola.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2015 Angola Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS) using the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. The analysis consisted of disaggregated ANC coverage rates using four equity stratifiers (economic status, education, residence, and region) and four summary measures (Difference, Population Attributable Risk, Ratio and Population Attributable Fraction). To measure statistical significance, an uncertainty interval (UI) of 95% was constructed around point estimates.

RESULTS

The study showed both absolute and relative inequalities in coverage of ANC services in Angola. More specifically, inequality favored women who were rich (D = 54.2, 95% UI; 49.59, 58.70, PAF = 43.5, 95% UI; 40.12, 46.92), educated (PAR = 19.9, 95% UI; 18.14, 21.64, R = 2.14, 95% UI; 1.96, 2.32), living in regions such as Luanda (D = 51.7, 95% UI; 43.56, 59.85, R = 2.64, 95% UI; 2.01, 3.26) and residing in urban dwellings (PAF = 20, 95% UI; 17.70, 22.38, PAR = 12.3, 95% UI; 10.88, 13.75).

CONCLUSION

The uptake of ANC services were lower among poor, uneducated, and rural residents as well as women from the Cuanza Sul region. Government policy makers must consider vulnerable subpopulations when designing needed interventions to improve ANC coverage in Angola to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing global maternal mortality ratio to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Antenatal care booking within the first trimester of pregnancy and its associated factors among pregnant women residing in an urban area: a cross-sectional study in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess antenatal care (ANC) booking within the first trimester of pregnancy and its associated factors among urban dwellers of pregnant women in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Public and private health facilities that provide ANC services in Debre Berhan town.

OUTCOME MEASURE

First ANC booking within the first trimester of pregnancy.

PARTICIPANTS

Urban dwellers of pregnant women in Debre Berhan town (n=384).

RESULTS

A total of 387 pregnant women in Debre Berhan town were selected for this study, of which 384 responded giving a response rate of 99.2%. The proportion of pregnant women who had ANC booking within the first trimester of pregnancy was 156 (40.6%; 95% CI: 35.8% to 45.6%). In the multivariable analysis, the odds of first ANC booking within the first trimester was higher among pregnant women who had secondary school (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.84; 95% CI: 1.10 to 3.19) and more than secondary level of education (AOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.27 to 4.03) compared with those who had less than a secondary school level of education. Pregnant women who have any ill health with their current pregnancy (AOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.21 to 3.27) were more likely to start booking within the first trimester than their counterparts. The odds of ANC booking within the first trimester was threefold higher among women with knowledge of ANC (AOR: 3.05; 95% CI: 1.52 to 6.11) compared with their counterparts.

CONCLUSION

First ANC booking within the first trimester was found to be low among urban dwellers of Debre Berhan town. Secondary school and more educational level, having ill health during early pregnancy and women's knowledge about ANC services were statistically associated with ANC booking within the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, improving ANC booking according to the WHO recommendation requires due attention. Further qualitative research exploring why early ANC booking remains low among urban dwellers is important to design intervention modalities.

Socioeconomic inequalities in reproductive health care services across Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Women in Sub-Saharan African experience socioeconomic barriers in the use of reproductive health care services. This paper analyzes the evidence on socioeconomic inequalities in reproductive health care utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa and identifies the variance in the estimates of these inequalities.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on socioeconomic inequalities in the use of reproductive health care services published between January 2008 and June 2019. We used meta-regression to identify heterogeneity sources in reproductive care services use.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were included and they reported 305 estimates of the concentration index for different reproductive health care services. We grouped the services into ten categories of reproductive health care services. Socioeconomic status was associated with inequality in reproductive health care use and was on average high, with a pro-wealthy inequality magnitude of the concentration index of 0.202. The meta-analysis indicated that inequality was highest for skilled childbirth services with an average concentration index of 0.343. The average concentration index for family planning and components of antenatal care was 0.268 and 0.142 respectively. Random-effects meta-regression showed that the heterogeneity in reproductive health care use was explained by contextual differences between countries.

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of inequality in reproductive health care use varies with the type of service and the focus on skilled childbirth services through user fees removal appears to have fostered inequality. The one-size-fits-all approach to reproductive health care initiatives has ignored differences in reproductive health care needs and the ability to overcome use barriers.

Inequalities and trends in Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) in Ethiopia: Evidence from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys, 2000-2016

BACKGROUND

Substantial inequality in neonatal mortality rates (NMR) remains in low- and middle-income countries to the detriment of disadvantaged subpopulations. In Ethiopia, there is a dearth of evidence on the extent and trends of disparity in NMR. This study assessed the socioeconomic, residence and sex-based inequalities in NMR, as well as examined its change over a sixteen year period in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Using the World Health Organization's (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software, data from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) were analyzed between 2000 and 2016. NMR was disaggregated by four equity stratifiers: education, wealth, residence and sex. In addition, absolute and relative inequality measures, namely Difference, Population Attributable Risk (PAR), Ratio, Relative Concentration Index (RCI) and Slope Index of Inequality (SII) were calculated to understand inequalities from different perspectives. Corresponding 95% Uncertainty Intervals (UIs) were computed to measure statistical significance.

FINDINGS

Large educational inequalities in NMR were found in 2000, 2005, and 2011, while wealth-driven inequality occurred in 2011. Sex disparity was noted in all the surveys, and urban-rural differentials remained in all the surveys except in 2016. While socioeconomic and area-related inequalities decreased over time, sex related inequality did not change during the period of study.

CONCLUSIONS

NMR appeared to be concentrated among male newborns, neonates born to illiterate and poor women and those living in rural settings. However, the inequality narrowed over time. Interventions appropriate for different subpopulations need to be designed.

Protocol for the evaluation of a complex intervention aiming at increased utilisation of primary child health services in Ethiopia: a before and after study in intervention and comparison areas

Background

By expanding primary health care services, Ethiopia has reduced under-five mor4tality. Utilisation of these services is still low, and concerted efforts are needed for continued improvements in newborn and child survival. “Optimizing the Health Extension Program” is a complex intervention based on a logic framework developed from an analysis of barriers to the utilisation of primary child health services. This intervention includes innovative components to engage the community, strengthen the capacity of primary health care workers, and reinforce the local ownership and accountability of the primary child health services. This paper presents a protocol for the process and outcome evaluation, using a pragmatic trial design including before-and-after assessments in both intervention and comparison areas across four Ethiopian regions. The study has an integrated research capacity building initiative, including ten Ph.D. students recruited from Ethiopian Regional Health Bureaus and universities.

Methods

Baseline and endline surveys 2 years apart include household, facility, health worker, and district health office modules in intervention and comparison areas across Amhara, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Oromia, and Tigray regions. The effectiveness of the intervention on the seeking and receiving of appropriate care will be estimated by difference-in-differences analysis, adjusting for clustering and for relevant confounders. The process evaluation follows the guidelines of the UK Medical Research Council. The implementation is monitored using data that we anticipate will be used to describe the fidelity, reach, dose, contextual factors and cost. The participating Ph.D. students plan to perform in-depth analyses on different topics including equity, referral, newborn care practices, quality-of-care, geographic differences, and other process evaluation components.

Discussion

This protocol describes an evaluation of a complex intervention that aims at increased utilisation of primary and child health services. This unique collaborative effort includes key stakeholders from the Ethiopian health system, the implementing non-governmental organisations and universities, and combines state-of-the art effectiveness estimates and process evaluation with capacity building. The lessons learned from the project will inform efforts to engage communities and increase utilisation of care for children in other parts of Ethiopia and beyond.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12040912, retrospectively registered on 19 December, 2017.

Inequalities in reproductive health care use in five West-African countries: A decomposition analysis of the wealth-based gaps

BACKGROUND

Family planning and maternal care services have become increasingly available in West Africa but the level of non-use remains high. This unfavorable outcome may be partly due to the unaffordability of reproductive health care services.

METHODS

Using the Demographic Health Survey data from Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, we perform a decomposition analysis to quantify the contribution of socio-demographic characteristics to disparities in exposure to mass media information on family planning, use of modern contraceptives, adequate antenatal care visits, facility-based childbirth and C-section between low-wealth and high-wealth women.

RESULTS

Our study shows that differences in maternal characteristics between the wealth groups explain at least 40% of the gap in exposure to mass media family planning information, 30% in modern contraceptive use, 24% of adequate antenatal care visits, 47% of the difference in facility-based childbirths, and 62% in C-section. Lack of information on pregnancy complications, living in rural residence, religion, lack of autonomy in health facility seeking decision, need to pay, and distance explains the disparity in reproductive health care use across all countries. In countries with complete fee exemption policies for specific groups in the population, Ghana, Niger, and Senegal, the inequality gaps between wealth groups in having an adequate number of antenatal care visits and facility-based childbirth are smaller than in countries with partial or no exemption policies. But this is not the case for C-section.

CONCLUSIONS

There is evidence that current policies addressing the cost of maternal care services may increase the wealth-based inequality in maternal care use if socio-demographic differences are not addressed. Public health interventions are needed to target socio-demographic disparities and health facility seeking problems that disadvantage women in poor households.

Socio-economic inequalities in ANC attendance among mothers who gave birth in the past 12 months in Debre Brehan town and surrounding rural areas, North East Ethiopia: a community-based survey

BACKGROUND

In Ethiopia, socio-economic inequalities in the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) have long been an obstacle to the country's effort in achieving universal coverage of the service. The study aimed to investigate socio-economic inequalities in the use of ANC services among recently-delivered women in Debre Brehan and surrounding areas, North East Ethiopia.

METHODS

A community-based survey was carried out in Debre Brehan and surrounding areas in North East Ethiopia. Two-stage cluster sampling technique was followed to recruit study participants. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire from a sample of 412 mothers who gave birth in the 12 months prior to the study. The socio-economic inequalities were assessed by calculating a relative concentration index. Decomposition analysis was done to explain measured inequalities. Analysis was carried out in RStudio statistical environment using the 'decomp' package.

RESULTS

The first ANC attendance has slight pro-poor concentration, with a relative concentration index of-0.128, and 95%CI -0.175, - 0.082.Socio-Economic Status (SES) of a household, educational level and occupation of a woman and her husband were the most important contributors to the measured inequality in ANC attendance. We found no SES-based inequality in the attendance of four or more ANC visits between the poor and rich.

CONCLUSIONS

Attendance of the first ANC visit appeared to be slightly concentrated among women in the lower end of SES. The utilization of at least four ANC visits was found to be similar among the poor and rich. Population-based interventions that target all socio-economic groups are recommended to accelerate universal coverage of these process indicators.

Educational expansion and health disparities in Ethiopia, 2005-2016

Research shows that basic education improves population health, yet it remains unclear whether the expansion of primary education decreases health disparities. In this paper, I assess whether disparities in healthcare utilization decreased in conjunction with educational expansion among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. Healthcare utilization rates in low-resource countries are often confounded with simultaneous developments in education and access to basic healthcare. Using decomposition of rates, I first disentangle the changes in health disparities induced by educational expansion from the overall increase in healthcare utilization. Then, I use the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method to investigate the determinants of disparities in healthcare utilization and how these determinants changed over a 10-year period as primary education became more prevalent. Overall, disparities in healthcare utilization in Ethiopia decreased over time, yet the association between educational expansion and health disparities varies by region. Literacy explains much of the disparities in healthcare utilization, yet it loses significance over time as primary education becomes widespread. Economic factors remain persistent sources of disparities, and non-financial barriers such as the distance to travel and women's ability to travel alone become more significant. Heterogeneity in healthcare utilization across regions has distinct implications for how educational expansion may shift health disparities.

Inequalities in the utilization of maternal health care in the pre- and post-National Health Mission periods in India

Since the implementation of the National Health Mission (NHM) in India there has been a noticeable improvement in the utilization of maternal care, namely antenatal care (ANC), skilled birth attendants (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC) in the country. The increase in utilization of these services is expected to reduce inequality across geographies and population sub-groups, but little is known about the extent of inequality in maternal care use across socioeconomic groups over time. Using data from the last two rounds of National Family Health Surveys conducted in 2005-06 and 2015-16, this study examined the extent of inequality in utilization of full ANC, SBA and PNC in India and its states. Descriptive statistics were used, a concentration index was computed and decomposition analyses performed to understand the pattern and change of inequality in use of maternal care. The results suggest that the gap in maternal care utilization across socioeconomic groups has reduced over time. The concentration index for SBA showed a decline from 0.49 in 2005-06 to 0.08 by 2015-16, while that of PNC declined from 0.36 to 0.13 over the same period. The reduction in inequality in utilization of full PNC was the least. The results of the decomposition analysis revealed that urban residence, education and belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes positively contributed to the inequality. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Sishu Suraksha Karyakaram schemes be continued and strengthened for poor mothers to reduce maternal health inequality, particularly in full ANC and PNC.

Current status and determinants of maternal healthcare utilization in Afghanistan: Analysis from Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey 2015

Background

Advancing maternal health is central to global health policy-making; therefore, considerable efforts have been made to improve maternal health. Still, in many developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including Afghanistan, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains high. The objective of this study was to examine the determinants and current status of the utilization of maternal healthcare in Afghanistan.

Methods

This study used the most recent data from the Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey 2015. The unit of analysis for this study was women who had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey. The outcome variables were four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits, delivery assistance by a skilled birth attendant (SBA), and delivery by cesarean section (CS). The explanatory variables were basic sociodemographic characteristics of the mothers. We examined the sociodemographic characteristics of women utilizing ANC, SBA, and CS using descriptive statistics and estimated usage of ANC, SBA and CS after adjusting for maternal age and parity groups via direct standardization. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to investigate the determinants of maternal healthcare variables.

Results

Overall, 17.8% of women attended four or more ANC visits, 53.6% utilized an SBA, and 3.4% of women gave birth through CS. Women’s education, wealth status, urbanity, autonomy, and availability of their own transport were found to be the major determinants of service utilization.

Conclusions

This study underscores low utilization of maternal healthcare services with wide disparities in Afghanistan and highlighted the need for an adequate health strategy and policy implementation to improve maternal healthcare uptake.

Impact of the free healthcare initiative on wealth-related inequity in the utilization of maternal & child health services in Sierra Leone

BACKGROUND

As a result of financial barriers to the utilization of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services, the Government of Sierra Leone launched the Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI) in 2010. This study aimed to examine the impact of the FHCI on wealth related inequity in the utilization of three MCH services.

METHODS

We analysed data from 2008 to 2013 Sierra Leone Demographic Health Surveys (SLDHS) using 2008 SLDHS as a baseline. Seven thousand three hundred seventy-four and 16,658 women of reproductive age were interviewed in the 2008 and 2013 SLDHS respectively. We employed a binomial logistic regression to evaluate wealth related inequity in the utilization of institutional delivery. Concentration curves and indices were used to measure the inequity in the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) visits and postnatal care (PNC) reviews. Test of significance was performed for the difference in odds and concentration indexes obtained for the 2008 and 2013 SLDHS.

RESULTS

There was an overall improvement in the utilization of MCH services following the FHCI with a 30% increase in institutional delivery rate, 24% increment in more than four focused ANC visits and 33% increment in complete PNC reviews. Wealth related inequity in institutional delivery has increased but to the advantage of the rich, highly educated, and urban residents. Results of the inequity statistics demonstrate that PNC reviews were more equally distributed in 2008 than ANC visits, and, in 2013, the poorest respondents ranked by wealth index utilized more PNC reviews than their richest counterparts. For ANC visits, the change in concentration index was from 0.008331[95% CI (0.008188, 0.008474)] in 2008 to - 0.002263 [95% CI (- 0.002322, - 0.002204)] in 2013. The change in concentration index for PNC reviews was from - 0.001732 [95% CI (- 0.001746, - 0.001718)] in 2008 to - 0.001771 [95% CI (- 0.001779, - 0.001763)] in 2013. All changes were significant (p value < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The FHCI appears to be improving access to and utilization of MCH services, narrowing the inequity in ANC visits and PNC reviews, but is insufficient in addressing wealth- related inequity that exists for institutional deliveries. If Sierra Leone is to realize a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality rates, it needs to strengthen the effective implementation of FHCI considering incorporating a sector wide approach (SWAp) or a "Health in all Policy" framework to reach the less educated, rural residents and ensuring culturally sensitive quality services.

Global Inequality in Maternal Health Care Service Utilization: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Purpose: Globally, low-middle-income countries continue to account for almost all of the pregnancy-related mortalities that are largely preventable through adequate utilization of essential maternal health care services such as antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth assistance (SBA). Promoting the use of ANC and SBA services are hindered by numerous policy- and capacity-related barriers along with widespread inequality in utilization of the existing services that further exacerbates the scenario. In an attempt to better understand the geography of inequality in service utilization, we conducted this brief descriptive study by using World Health Organization (WHO) data on ANC and SBA utilization among the member states. Methods: This was a descriptive study based on open access data on ANC and SBA use between 2012 and 2015 available through the Global Health Observatory of WHO. Country-level data were collected for Asia (41 countries), Africa (35 countries), Europe (35 countries), North America (10 countries), Latin America and the Caribbean (25 countries), and Oceania (16 countries). Cross-country and continent comparisons were made using dot and bar charts. Results: The overall prevalence of ANC and SBA use were, respectively, 78.17% and 88.33%. Considerable disparities were found in terms of ANC and SBA use across the continents, especially in Asia and Africa. Globally, the poorest performing countries included Afghanistan, Somalia, and South Sudan where more than three-quarters of the women remain deprived of ANC and SBA services during the period of 2012 and 2015. The greatest inequality in ANC use was observed in Africa (9.4% in Somalia and 99.9% in Libya), whereas that of SBA use was observed in Asia (17.8% in Afghanistan vs. 100% in Bahrain). Europe was the most equal of all regions in terms of both ANC (66.8% in Albania vs. 99.7% in Belarus) and SBA (94.4% in Denmark vs. 100% in Lithuania) use. Conclusion: Although in the majority of countries more than three-quarters of the women receive ANC and SBA services, the extent of intraregional inequality remains overwhelming especially for Asia and Africa. Progress toward maternal health-related targets should be interpreted in terms of the disparities to ensure a more even and sustainable outcome at both national and global level.

Global surgery and the sustainable development goals

Background

The field of global surgery has gained significant recent momentum, catalysed by the 2015 publication of the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, Disease Control Priorities 3 and World Health Assembly resolution 68.15. These reports characterized the global burden of disease amenable to surgical care, called for global investment in surgical systems, and recognized surgery and anaesthesia as essential components of universal health coverage.

Methods

A strategy proposed to strengthen surgical care is the development of national surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia plans (NSOAPs). This review examined how NSOAPs could contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 by 2030, focusing on their potential impact on the healthcare systems in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia.

Results

Due to the cross-cutting nature of surgery, obstetrics and anaesthesia, investing in these services will escalate progress to achieve gender equality, economic growth and infrastructure development. Universal health coverage will not be achieved without addressing the financial ramifications to the poor of seeking and receiving surgical care. NSOAPs provide a strategic framework and a data collection platform for evidence-based policy-making, accountability and implementation guidance.

Conclusion

The development and implementation of data-driven NSOAPs should be recognized as a powerful road map to accelerate achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

Prevalence of unmet need for contraception and its association with unwanted pregnancy among married women in Angola

Background

Unmet need for contraception and unwanted pregnancy are recognised as significant barriers to promoting women’s reproductive health and well-being. Currently there is no research evidence on these two crucial indicators of reproductive care in Angola. Therefore, we conducted this study with the objectives of exploring the current prevalence of unmet need for contraception and unintended pregnancy as well as their relationship among married women in Angola.

Methods

This study was based on cross-sectional data from Angola Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2015–16. Participants were 7,808 married women aged 15–49 years. Unwanted pregnancy was measured in terms of the mistimed and unintended conception for the last-born child. Unmet need for contraception included those who reported unmet need for spacing and limiting. Data were analysed using bivariate and multivariable techniques.

Results

The combined prevalence of mistimed and unwanted pregnancy was 38.3% (95%CI = 35.9–40.7), and that of unmet need for contraception for spacing and limiting was 51.7% (49.9–53.5). Among the 18 regions, Luanda had the highest prevalence of unmet need for contraception and of unwanted pregnancy with the prevalence being higher than more than one-third of the women. Multivariable analysis significantly revealed a significantly positive association between unmet need and unwanted pregnancy. In all the models, the odds of unwanted pregnancy were found to be as high as four times among women with unmet need compared with those had no unmet need. Compared to women who had no unmet need, those who had unmet need had respectively four (OR = 4.380; 95%CI = 3.690–5.198) and seven (OR = 6.951; 95%CI = 4.642–10.410) times higher odds of experiencing unwanted pregnancy.

Conclusion

This study concludes that the prevalence of unmet need for contraception and unwanted pregnancy are high with significant disparities across the regions. Women in the capital city had the highest prevalence of both unmet need for contraception and unwanted pregnancy. Although the data were cross-sectional and do not indicate causal relationships, the findings showed a strong positive association between unmet need for contraception and unwanted pregnancy. However, it is recommended to conduct further studies to replicate the findings and to explore the influence behavioural and cultural practices on unwanted pregnancy.