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Minani P, Ross A. Strengthening caesarean birth: Sub-Saharan Africa health system evaluation: Scoping review. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2024; 16:e1-e11. [PMID: 38708736 PMCID: PMC11079335 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v16i1.4128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promoting safe caesarean birth (CB) is a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where maternal and neonatal mortality rates are high due to inadequate maternal health services. Although the CB rate in SSA is lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, it is often associated with high maternal and neonatal mortality. AIM The aim of this scoping review was to report on the extent to which SSA health systems deliver safe CB. METHODS A systematic search across various databases identified 53 relevant studies, comprising 30 quantitative, 10 qualitative and 16 mixed methods studies. RESULTS These studies focused on clinical protocols, training, availability, accreditation, staff credentialing, hospital supervision, support infrastructure, risk factors, surgical interventions and complications related to maternal mortality and stillbirth. CB rates in SSA varied significantly, ranging from less than 1% to a high rate of 29.7%. Both very low as well as high rates contributed to significant maternal and neonatal morbidity. Factors influencing maternal and perinatal mortality include poor referral systems, inadequate healthcare facilities, poor quality of CBs, inequalities in access to maternity care and affordable CB intervention. CONCLUSION The inadequate distribution of healthcare facilities, and limited access to emergency obstetric care impacted the quality of CBs. Early access to quality maternity services with skilled providers is recommended to improve CB safety.Contributions: This scoping review contributes to the body of knowledge motivating for the prioritization of maternal service across SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Minani
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
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Kundu S, Sharif AB, Chowdhury SSA, Afroz S, Dey R, Hossain A. Socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in delivery by cesarean section among women in Bangladesh, 2004-2017. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:131. [PMID: 38350916 PMCID: PMC10863140 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06327-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a dearth of evidence on the trends and inequalities in utilizing cesarean section (CS) among women in Bangladesh. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in delivery by CS among Bangladeshi women from 2004 to 2017. METHODS Data from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017 were analyzed using the WHO's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. Inequalities were measured using four summary measures: Difference (D), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF), and Ratio (R). Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed using two equity dimensions: household wealth status, and level of education, while geographical disparities were measured using two equity dimensions: place of residence, and sub-national regions. For each measure, point estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were reported. RESULTS An increasing trend in the prevalence (weighted) of CS in Bangladesh use was found from 4.50% in 2004 to 32.73% in 2017 We found significant socioeconomic inequalities in CS in every survey point, with a higher concentration of CS among the rich (in 2017, PAR = 28.57; 95% CI: 26.69-30.46) indicating a pro-rich inequality, and higher educated (in 2017, PAF = 23.97; 95% CI: 12.26-35.68) sub-groups. We also identified significant geographical disparities in CS with a higher concentration of CS among people from urban areas (in 2017, PAR = 10.99; 95% CI: 10.19-11.79), and a coastal region (Khulna division) (in 2017, PAF: 30.48 (95% CI: 18.66-42.30). CONCLUSION We observed both socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in CS exist in Bangladesh, though the trends of these inequalities were curved over time. Thus, it is important to comprehend these pro-rich and geographical inequalities better and implement appropriate interventions and policies to alleviate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyajit Kundu
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh.
| | - Azaz Bin Sharif
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Syed Sharaf Ahmed Chowdhury
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Sadia Afroz
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Rakhi Dey
- Statistics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Hossain
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
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Spatial distribution and predictive factors of antenatal care in Burundi: A spatial and multilevel baseline analysis for the third burundian demographic and health survey. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0272897. [PMID: 36649240 PMCID: PMC9844929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of antenatal care by pregnant women enables them to receive good pregnancy monitoring. This monitoring includes counseling, health instructions, examinations and tests to avoid pregnancy-related complications or death during childbirth. To avoid these complications, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least four antenatal visits. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify predictive factors of antenatal care (ANC) among women aged 15 to 49 years and its spatial distribution in Burundi. METHODS We used data from the Second Burundi Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). A Spatial analysis of ANC prevalence and Mulitlevel logistic regressions of determinants factors of ANC with a medical doctor were done. The ANC prevalence was mapped by region and by province. In unsampled data points, a cluster based interpolation of ANC prevalence was done using the kernel method with an adaptive window. Predictive factors of ANC were assessed using Mulitlevel logistic regressions. The dependent variable was antenatal care with a medical doctor and the explanatory variables were place of residence, age, education level, religion, marital status of the woman, household wealth index and delivery place of the woman. Data processing and data analysis were done using using Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) and R software, version 3. 5. 0. RESULTS The ANC prevalence varied from 0. 0 to 16. 2% with a median of 0. 5%. A highest predicted ANC prevalence was observed at Muyinga and Kirundo provinces' junction. Low prevalence was observed in several locations in all regions and provinces. The woman's education level and delivery place were significantly associated with antenatal care with a medical doctor. CONCLUSION Globally, the ANC prevalence is low in Burundi. It varies across the country. There is an intra-regional or intra-provincial heterogeneity in term of ANC prevalence. Woman's education level and delivery place are significantly associated antenatal care. There is a need to consider these ANC disparities and factors in the design and strengthening of existing interventions aimed at increasing ANC visits.
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Abdel-Rahman ME, Thalib L, Rayis DA. Caesarean section in Sudan: findings from nationwide household surveys on rates, trends, and geographic and sociodemographic variability. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:716. [PMID: 36127631 PMCID: PMC9487139 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04995-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Medically unjustifiable caesarean section (CS) deliveries have been rising rapidly in many developed countries over the last three decades. While many developing countries show rates beyond optimal levels, few poorer countries appear to have sub-optimal obstetric care in relation to essential surgeries. The objective of this study is to document the rates of CS delivery, its time trend, and geographic and sociodemographic variability in Sudan. Methods We utilized a number of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) conducted in 2014, 2010, and 2006 to quantify CS rates per 1000 live births. We also documented absolute changes in rates over three-time points and variation in CS rates across geographic regions and areas of residence. Results Over a decade, CS rates in Sudan increased steadily from 4.3% in 2006 to 6.7% in 2010 and 9.1% in 2014. During this period, CS rates varied considerably across regions showing higher rates in the Northern region (7–25%) and lower rates in Darfur (2–3%). Urban areas experienced rapidly increasing rates (6–14%), while rural areas showed negligible changes to absolute CS rates over time (5–7%). We also found geographic regions, maternal age, maternal education, receiving antenatal care, and birth order of the child were important determinants of CS in Sudan. Conclusion Sudan may be facing a double burden of problems associated with surgical interventions for childbirth. While the wealthier parts of Sudan are experiencing a rapid surge in CS, some poor parts of rural Sudan may not be getting the essential surgical intervention for birth when mandated. Urgent improvement to obstetric care and the development of appropriate public health interventions that focus on regional disparities are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manar E Abdel-Rahman
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Lukman Thalib
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Aydın University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Duriya A Rayis
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
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Ahinkorah BO, Aboagye RG, Seidu AA, Okyere J, Mohammed A, Chattu VK, Budu E, Adoboi F, Yaya S. Rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries in sub-Saharan Africa: a multivariate non-linear decomposition modelling of Demographic and Health Survey data. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:709. [PMID: 36115842 PMCID: PMC9482294 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Globally, the rate of caesarean deliveries increased from approximately 16.0 million in 2000 to 29.7 million in 2015. In this study, we decomposed the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Data for the study were extracted from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of twenty-eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We included 160,502 women who had delivered in health facilities within the five years preceding the survey. A multivariate non-linear decomposition model was employed to decompose the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries. The results were presented using coefficients and percentages. Results The pooled prevalence of caesarean deliveries in the 28 countries considered in the study was 6.04% (95% CI = 5.21–6.88). Caesarean deliveries' prevalence was highest in Namibia (16.05%; 95% CI = 14.06–18.04) and lowest in Chad (1.32%; 95% CI = 0.91–1.73). For rural-urban disparities in caesarean delivery, the pooled prevalence of caesarean delivery was higher in urban areas (10.37%; 95% CI = 8.99–11.75) than rural areas (3.78%; 95% CI = 3.17-4.39) across the 28 countries. Approximately 81% of the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries were attributable to the differences in child and maternal characteristics. Hence, if the child and maternal characteristics were levelled, more than half of the rural–urban inequality in caesarean deliveries would be reduced. Wealth index (39.2%), antenatal care attendance (13.4%), parity (12.8%), mother’s educational level (3.5%), and health insurance subscription (3.1%) explained approximately 72% of the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries. Conclusion This study shows significant rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries, with the disparities being attributable to the differences in child and maternal characteristics: wealth index, parity, antenatal care attendance, mother’s educational level, and health insurance subscription. Policymakers in the included countries could focus and work on improving the socioeconomic status of rural-dwelling women as well as encouraging antenatal care attendance, women's education, health insurance subscription, and family planning, particularly in rural areas.
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Shukla M, Mohan M, van Duinen A, Gadgil A, Bakker J, Bhushan P, Roy N. Assessing geographical and economic inequalities in caesarean section rates between the districts of Bihar, India: a secondary analysis of the National Family Health Survey. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055326. [PMID: 34992116 PMCID: PMC8739431 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Bihar, one of the most populous and poorest states in India, caesarean sections have increased over the last decade. However, an aggregated caesarean section rate at the state level may conceal inequities at the district level. OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this study was to analyse the inequalities in the geographical and socioeconomic distribution of caesarean sections between the districts of Bihar. The secondary aim was to compare the contribution of free-for-service government-funded public facilities and fee-for-service private facilities to the caesarean section rate. SETTING Bihar, with a population in the 2011 census of approximately 104 million people, has a low GDP per capita (US$610), compared with other Indian states. The state has the highest crude birth rate (26.1 per 1000 population) in India, with one baby born every two seconds. Bihar is divided into 38 administrative districts, 101 subdivisions and 534 blocks. Each district has a district (Sadar) hospital, and six districts also have one or more medical college hospitals. METHODS This retrospective secondary data analysis was based on open-source national datasets from the 2015 and 2019 National Family Health Surveys, with respective sample sizes of 45 812 and 42 843 women aged 15-49 years. PARTICIPANTS Secondary data analysis of pregnant women delivering in public and private institutions. RESULTS The caesarean section rate increased from 6.2% in 2015 to 9.7% in 2019 in Bihar. Districts with a lower proportion of poor population had higher caesarean section rates (R2=0.45) among all institutional births, with 10.3% in private and 2.9% in public facilities. Access to private caesarean sections decreased (R2=0.46) for districts with poorer populations. CONCLUSION Marked inequalities exist in access to caesarean sections. The public sector needs to be strengthened to improve access to obstetric services for those who need it most.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minal Shukla
- Dept of Surgery, WHO Collaboration Centre for Research in Surgical Care Delivery in LMICs, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Monali Mohan
- Dept of Surgery, WHO Collaboration Centre for Research in Surgical Care Delivery in LMICs, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Alex van Duinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, NTNU Fakultet for ingeniorvitenskap og teknologi Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Surgery, St Olav's Hospital Universitetssykehuset i Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anita Gadgil
- Dept of Surgery, WHO Collaboration Centre for Research in Surgical Care Delivery in LMICs, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Juul Bakker
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pranav Bhushan
- Aspirational Districts Unit, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Nobhojit Roy
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Shibre G, Zegeye B, Ahinkorah BO, Keetile M, Yaya S. Magnitude and trends in socio-economic and geographic inequality in access to birth by cesarean section in Tanzania: evidence from five rounds of Tanzania demographic and health surveys (1996-2015). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 78:80. [PMID: 32944238 PMCID: PMC7491176 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-020-00466-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Background Majority of maternal deaths are avoidable through quality obstetric care such as Cesarean Section (CS). However, in low-and middle-income countries, many women are still dying due to lack of obstetric services. Tanzania is one of the African countries where maternal mortality is high. However, there is paucity of evidence related to the magnitude and trends of disparities in CS utilization in the country. This study examined both the magnitude and trends in socio-economic and geographic inequalities in access to birth by CS. Methods Data were extracted from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHSs) (1996–2015) and analyzed using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. First, access to birth by CS was disaggregated by four equity stratifiers: wealth index, education, residence and region. Second, we measured the inequality through summary measures, namely Difference (D), Ratio (R), Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII). A 95% confidence interval was constructed for point estimates to measure statistical significance. Results The results showed variations in access to birth by CS across socioeconomic, urban-rural and regional subgroups in Tanzania from 1996 to 2015. Among the poorest subgroups, there was a 1.38 percentage points increase in CS coverage between 1996 and 2015 whereas approximately 11 percentage points increase was found among the richest subgroups within same period of time. The coverage of CS increased by nearly 1 percentage point, 3 percentage points and 9 percentage points among non-educated, those who had primary education and secondary or higher education, respectively over the last 19 years. The increase in coverage among rural residents was 2 percentage points and nearly 8 percentage points among urban residents over the last 19 years. Substantial disparity in CS coverage was recorded in all the studied surveys. For instance, in the most recent survey, pro-rich (RII = 15.55, 95% UI; 10.44, 20.66, SII = 15.8, 95% UI; 13.70, 17.91), pro-educated (RII = 13.71, 95% UI; 9.04, 18.38, SII = 16.04, 95% UI; 13.58, 18.49), pro-urban (R = 3.18, 95% UI; 2.36, 3.99), and subnational (D = 16.25, 95% UI; 10.02, 22.48) absolute and relative inequalities were observed. Conclusion The findings showed that over the last 19 years, women who were uneducated, poorest/poor, living in rural settings and from regions such as Zanzibar South, appeared to utilize CS services less in Tanzania. Therefore, such subpopulations need to be the central focus of policies and programmes implemmentation to improve CS services coverage and enhance equity-based CS services utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebretsadik Shibre
- Department of Reproductive, Family and Population Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Betregiorgis Zegeye
- Shewarobit Field Office, HaSET Maternal and Child Health Research Program, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Mpho Keetile
- Population Studies and Demography, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Sanni Yaya
- School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada.,The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Shibre G, Idriss-Wheeler D, Bishwajit G, Yaya S. Observed trends in the magnitude of socioeconomic and area-based inequalities in use of caesarean section in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1222. [PMID: 32781997 PMCID: PMC7418379 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09297-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Ethiopia, there is a paucity of studies on inequality in caesarean section using methodologically rigorous and well-established approaches. In this study, we showed extent and the overtime dynamics of inequality in caesarean section in Ethiopia following rigorous methodologies. METHODS The data for analysis came from Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) conducted between 2000 and 2016. We used the World Health Organization's (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) to analyze the data. Caesarean delivery was disaggregated by four equity stratifiers, namely education, wealth, residence and regions. Relative and absolute summary measures were calculated for each equity stratifier to capture inequality from different perspectives. 95% Uncertainty Interval was calculated around a point estimate to measure statistical significance. RESULTS We found large socioeconomic and area-based inequalities in use of caesarean section in all study surveys. The inequalities have occurred in favour of socioeconomically advantaged women and those living in urban areas and certain regions such as Addis Ababa. While area-related inequality had generally increased with time, socioeconomic inequality showed fluctuation. Adoption of different measures in the study for the inequality analysis has caused the emergence of mix of patterns in caesarean section inequality over time. CONCLUSIONS In all the surveys, wealthy and more educated women, and those residing in urban areas had higher chance of obtaining caesarean delivery. Policy makers should work to ensure caesarean section that is in the accepted normal range. More emphasis should be drawn to subpopulation with under use of caesarean section while at the same time, discouraging unjustified use of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebretsadik Shibre
- Department of Reproductive Health and Health Services Management, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dina Idriss-Wheeler
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ghose Bishwajit
- School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada
| | - Sanni Yaya
- School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada
- The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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