Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Childbirth among Pastoralist Women in North-Eastern Ethiopia: A Multimethod Qualitative Analysis to the WHO Health Systems Responsiveness Framework

Exploring how non-clinical factors in childbirth care shape users' experiences in public health facilities in rural Chiapas, Mexico: a qualitative study using the WHO health systems responsiveness framework

INTRODUCTION

Many Mexicans face barriers to receive delivery care from qualified professionals, especially indigenous and poor sectors of the population, which represent most of the population in the state of Chiapas. When access to institutional delivery care is an option, experiences with childbirth care are often poor. This underscores the need for evidence to improve the quality of services from the user's perspective. The present study was conceived with the objective of understanding how non-clinical aspects of care shape women's birthing experiences in public health institutions in Chiapas.

METHODS

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study. Data collection consisted in 20 semi-structured interviews to women who had delivered in a public health facility in Chiapas during the last six months prior to the interview. For the design of the interview guide we used the WHO health system responsiveness framework, which focus on the performance of the health system in terms of the extent to which it delivers services according to the "universally legitimate expectations of individuals" and focuses on the non-financial and non-clinical qualities of care. The resulting data were analyzed using thematic analysis methodology.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 16 themes from the data, framed in eight categories which followed the eight domains of the WHO health systems responsiveness framework: Choice of the provider and the facility, prompt attention, quality of basic amenities, access to social support, respectful treatment, privacy, involvement in decisions, and communication. We shed light on the barriers women face in receiving prompt care, aspects of health facilities that impact women's comfort, the relevance of being provided with adequate food and drink during institutional delivery, how accompaniment contributes positively to the birthing experience, the aspects of childbirth that women find important to decide on, and how providers' interpersonal behaviors affect the birthing experience.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified non-clinical aspects of childbirth care that are important to the user experience and that are not being satisfactorily addressed by public health institutions in Chiapas. This evidence constitutes a necessary first step towards the design of strategies to improve the responsiveness of the Chiapas health system in childbirth care.

Spatial variation and predictors of missing birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) messages in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) message is one of the prenatal care packages targeted at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by avoiding unnecessary delays during labor and delivery. There is limited evidence in Ethiopia that has looked at the spatial variation of missing BPCR messages and potential predictors. Hence, this study aimed to identify spatial predictors missing BPCR messages at the national level.

METHODS

The study was based on analysis of 2016 Ethiopia Demographic Health Survey data, using a weighted sample of 4771 women. Arc-GIS version 10.7 and SaTScan version 9.6 statistical software were used for the spatial analysis. To explore spatial variation and locate spatial clusters of missing BPCR messages, the Global Moran's I statistic and Bernoulli-based spatial scan (SaTScan) analysis were carried out, respectively. Hotspot (Getis-OrdGi*) analysis was conducted to identify Hotspots and Cold spotsof missing BPCR messages. Finally, spatial regression were carried out via ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression to identify predictors of hotspots for missing BPCR messages.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of missing BPCR messages in Ethiopia was found to be 44.0% (95%CI: 42.6, 45.4%), with significant spatial variation across regions (Moran's I = 0.218, p-value<0.001) and seven most likely significant SaTScan clusters. The vast majority of Somali, central Afar, and Gambella regions were identified as statistically significant hotspots. Living in the poorest wealth quintile, having only one ANC visit, lack of access to listening to the radio, facing difficulty in accessing money, not having a mobile phone, and being not covered by health insurance were identified as significant spatial predictors of missing BPCR messages.

CONCLUSION

The level of missing BPCR messages during pregnancy was found to be high in Ethiopia, with significant local variation. As a result, policymakers at the national level and local planners should develop strategies and initiatives that enhance women's economic capacities, health-seeking behavior, and media exposure. Furthermore, the regional authorities should focus on strategies that promote universal health coverage through enrolling citizens in health insurance schemes.

Sexual and reproductive health services use among adolescents in pastoralist settings, northeastern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Adolescents have special sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) needs and are susceptible to poor health outcomes. The global burden of ill sexual health includes a significant proportion of Adolescents. The existing ASRH services in Ethiopia and particularly in the Afar region are currently not well suited to meet the needs of pastoralist adolescents. This study assesses the level of ASRH service utilization among pastoralists in Afar regional state, Ethiopia.

METHOD

A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2021 in four randomly chosen pastoralist villages or kebeles of Afar, Ethiopia. A multistage cluster sampling procedure was used to select 766 volunteer adolescents aged 10-19. SRH services uptake was measured asking whether they had used any SRH service components during the last year. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire; data entry was done with Epi info 3.5.1. Logistic regression analyses was used to assess associations with SRH service uptake. SPSS version 23 statistical software package was used for advanced logistic regression analyses to assess the associations between dependent and predictor variables.

RESULTS

The study revealed that two-thirds or 513 (67%) of the respondents are aware of ASRH services. However, only one-fourth (24.5%) of the enrolled adolescents used at least one ASRH service in the past twelve months. ASRH services utilization was significantly associated with gender (being female [AOR = 1.87 (CI 1.29-2.70)], being in school [AOR = 2.38(CI: 1.05-5.41), better family income [AOR = 10.92 (CI; 7.10-16.80)], prior discussions of ASRH issues [AOR = 4.53(CI: 2.52, 8.16)], prior sexual exposure [AOR = 4.75(CI: 1.35-16.70)], and being aware of ASRH services [AOR = 1.96 (CI: 1.02-3.822)]. Being pastoralist, religious and cultural restrictions, fear of it becoming known by parents, services not being available, income, and lack of knowledge were found to deter ASRH service uptake.

CONCLUSION

Addressing ASRH needs of pastoralist adolescents is more urgent than ever, sexual health problems are increasing where these groups face broad hurdles to SRH service uptake. Although Ethiopian national policy has created an enabling environment for ASRH, multiple implementation issues require special attention to such neglected groups. "Gender-culture-context-appropriate" interventions are favorable to identify and meet the diverse needs of Afar pastoralist adolescents. Afar regional education bureau and concerned stakeholders need to improve adolescent education to overcome social barriers (e.g. humiliation, disgrace, and deterring gender norms) against ASRH services through community outreach programs. In addition, economic empowerment, peer education, adolescent counseling, and parent-youth communication will help address sensitive ASRH issues.