scholarly journals Effects of antenatal care visits and health facility delivery on women's choice to circumcise their daughters in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from demographic and health surveys

Author(s):  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
Carolyne Njue

Abstract Background This study examines the association between maternal healthcare service utilisation and circumcision of daughters in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods This study is based on a cross-sectional study design that draws on analysis of pooled data from current demographic and health surveys conducted between 2010 and 2019 in 12 countries in SSA. Both bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression models were employed. Results Mothers who had four or more antenatal care visits were less likely to circumcise their daughters compared with those who had zero to three visits. Mothers who delivered at a health facility were less likely to circumcise their daughters than those who delivered at home. With the covariates, circumcision of daughters increased with increasing maternal age but decreased with increasing wealth quintile and level of education. Girls born to married women and women who had been circumcised were more likely to be circumcised. Conclusions This study established an association between maternal healthcare service utilisation and circumcision of girls from birth to age 14 y in SSA. The findings highlight the need to strengthen policies that promote maternal healthcare service utilisation (antenatal care and health facility delivery) by integrating female genital mutilation (FGM) information and education in countries studied.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Orwa ◽  
Michaela Mantel ◽  
Micheal Mugerwa ◽  
Sharon Brownie ◽  
Eunice Siaity Pallangyo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Improving maternal health by reducing maternal mortality/morbidity relates to Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving this goal is supported by antenatal care (ANC), health facility delivery, and postpartum care. This study aimed to understand levels of use and correlates of uptake of maternal healthcare services among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional multi-stage sampling household survey was conducted to obtain data from 1476 households in six districts of Mwanza Region. Data for the 409 women who delivered in the 2 years before the survey were analyzed for three outcomes: four or more ANC visits (ANC4+), health facility delivery, and postpartum visits. Factors associated with the three outcomes were determined using generalized estimating equations to account for clustering at the district level while adjusting for all variables. Results: Of the 409 eligible women, 58.2% attended ANC4+, 76.8% delivered in a health facility, and 43.5% attended a postpartum clinic. Women from peri-urban, island, and rural regions were less likely to have completed ANC4+ or health facility delivery compared with urban women. Education and early first antenatal visit were associated with ANC4+ and health facility delivery. Mothers from peri-urban areas and those who with health facility delivery were more likely to attend postpartum check-ups. Conclusion: Use of ANC services in early pregnancy influences the number of ANC visits, leading to higher uptake of ANC4+ and health facility delivery. Postpartum check-ups for mothers and newborns are associated with health facility delivery. Encouraging early initiation of ANC visits may increase the uptake of maternal healthcare services. Keywords: Antenatal care, health facility delivery, postpartum care, Mwanza, Tanzania


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248976
Author(s):  
Achamyeleh Birhanu Teshale ◽  
Getayeneh Antehunegn Tesema

Background Despite the significant advantages of timely initiation of breastfeeding (TIBF), many countries particularly low- and middle-income countries have failed to initiate breastfeeding on time for their newborns. Optimal breastfeeding is one of the key components of the SDG that may help to achieve reduction of under-five mortality to 25 deaths per 1000 live births. Objective To assess the pooled prevalence and associated factors of timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers having children less than two years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We used pooled data from the 35 sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). We used a total weighted sample of 101,815 women who ever breastfeed and who had living children under 2 years of age. We conducted the multilevel logistic regression and variables with p<0.05, in the multivariable analysis, were declared significantly associated with TIBF. Results The pooled prevalence of TIBF in SSA was 58.3% [95%CI; 58.0–58.6%] with huge variation between countries, ranging from 24% in Chad to 86% in Burundi. Both individual and community level variables were associated with TIBF. Among individual-level factors; being older-aged mothers, having primary education, being from wealthier households, exposure to mass media, being multiparous, intended pregnancy, delivery at a health facility, vaginal delivery, single birth, and average size of the child at birth were associated with higher odds of TIBF. Of community-level factors, rural place of residence, higher community level of ANC utilization, and health facility delivery were associated with higher odds of TIBF. Conclusion In this study, the prevalence of TIBF in SSA was low. Both individual and community-level factors were associated with TIBF. The authors recommend interventions at both individual and community levels to increase ANC utilization as well as health facility delivery that are crucial for advertising optimal breastfeeding practices such as TIBF.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghua Zhou ◽  
Zhonghe Zhou ◽  
Cheng Yang ◽  
Lu Ji ◽  
Bishwajit Ghose ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country and has one the highest rates of maternal and child mortality with inadequate use of maternal healthcare services in the region. The present study aimed to analyse the progress made in terms of using maternal healthcare services since 2000.Methods Two rounds of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS 2000 and DHS 2014) were used in the study. Sample population consisted 11,961 women aged between 15-49 years. The outcome measures were: Timing of first ANC attendance, adequacy of ANC attendance, place of delivery and postnatal checkup. WHO guidelines were used to set the cut-off/define these measures.Results Findings indicated that the overall prevalence of making the first ANC visit in the first trimester was 64.19% [95%CI=62.22,66.11], and that of having at least four ANC visits was 43.80% [95%CI=41.89,45.73]. Prevalence of health facility delivery was 48.76% [46.62,50.90] and that of postnatal checkup was 71.14% [95%CI=69.21,73.01]. Between 2000 and 2014, the percentage of timely and adequate use of ANC increased by respectively 61.8% and 65.3%, while that of health facility delivery and postnatal care increased by respectively 74.5% and 43.9%. Important demographic, socioeconomic and geographic disparities were observed in the utilization of ANC, health facility delivery and postnatal care services. Urban residency, having better educational status, white collar job, access to electronic media showed positive association, whereas higher parity (having >2 children) and unwanted pregnancy showed negative association with the use of maternal healthcare services. Having at least four ANC visits was associated with significantly increased higher odds of using health facility delivery and postnatal care.Conclusion There has a been a remarkable increase in the prevalence of women who are using the maternal healthcare services since 2000. Although the data are cross-sectional that precludes assuming any causal relationship, the current findings provide important insights regarding the pattern of sociodemographic inequalities in the use of maternal healthcare services in Cambodia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4(J)) ◽  
pp. 17-30
Author(s):  
Ruth Atuhaire ◽  
Robert Wamala ◽  
Leonard. K. Atuhaire ◽  
Elizabeth Nansubuga

This study aimed at examining regional differentials in maternal healthcare services in Uganda. Using a sample of 1,521 women of reproductive ages (15-49) from Eastern and Western sub-regions of Uganda, and non-linear Oaxaca’ Blinder Multivariate Decomposition method, we assessed differentials in utilization of early antenatal care, health facility delivery and early postnatal care services among the women, henceforth, establishing main predictors of regional inequalities that will enable policymakers to make better evenly interventions and focused decisions. The study reveals that differentials in the utilization of maternal healthcare services are not only hindered by social and economic barriers, but also widespread disparities in the utilization of existing services. Significant differentials were attributed to both variation in women’s characteristics and effects of coefficients. Findings showed that the gap in early antenatal care would reduce on average by 31.6% and 34.7% of differences in availability of community health workers and media exposure respectively, were to disappear. Furthermore, the gap would increase on average by 68.8% and 12.6% in absence of the variation in effects of maternal education, and wealth respectively. The gap in health facility delivery would reduce on average by 24.6% and 37.2% of differences in community health worker availability and media exposure were to disappear respectively and increase on average by 54.9% in the absence of variations in effects of maternal education. The gap in EPNC would reduce on average by 18.5% and 17.17% of differences in maternal education and community health worker availability were to disappear respectively and increase on average by 52.8% and 8.4% in the absence of the variation in effects of maternal education and wealth respectively. Progress towards equitable maternal health care should focus more on strategies that guarantee even distribution of community health workers, broad dissemination of maternal healthcare information and girl child education completion in Uganda.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244875
Author(s):  
Kenneth Setorwu Adde ◽  
Kwamena Sekyi Dickson ◽  
Hubert Amu

Introduction Maternal mortality is an issue of global public health concern with over 300,000 women dying globally each year. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), these deaths mainly occur around childbirth and the first 24hours after delivery. The place of delivery is, therefore, important in reducing maternal deaths and accelerating progress towards attaining the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to maternal health. In this study, we examined the prevalence and determinants of the place of delivery among reproductive age women in SSA. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study among women in their reproductive age using data from the most recent demographic and health surveys of 28 SSA countries. Frequency, percentage, chi-square, and logistic regression were used in analysing the data. All analyses were done using STATA. Results The overall prevalence of health facility delivery was 66%. This ranged from 23% in Chad to 94% in Gabon. More than half of the countries recorded a less than 70% prevalence of health facility delivery. The adjusted odds of health facility delivery were lowest in Chad. The probability of giving birth at a health facility also declined with increasing age but increased with the level of education and wealth status. Women from rural areas had a lower likelihood (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.57–0.61) of delivering at a health facility compared with urban women. Conclusions Our findings point to the inability of many SSA countries to meet the SDG targets concerning reductions in maternal mortality and improving the health of reproductive age women. The findings thus justify the need for peer learning among SSA countries for the adaption and integration into local contexts, of interventions that have proven to be successful in improving health facility delivery among reproductive age women.


2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulaimon T. Adedokun ◽  
Sanni Yaya

Abstract 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.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e034786
Author(s):  
Sofonyas Abebaw Tiruneh ◽  
Ayenew Molla Lakew ◽  
Seblewongel Tigabu Yigizaw ◽  
Malede Mequanent Sisay ◽  
Zemenu Tadesse Tessema

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the trends and factors that had contributed to the change in home delivery in Ethiopia over the last decade.Design, setting and analysisA nationally representative repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted using 2005, 2011 and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys. Multivariate decomposition logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant factors that have been contributed to the change in home delivery. Level of statistical significance was declared at a two-sided p value <0.05.Outcome measureTrends of home delivery.ParticipantsA total of 33 482 women were included.ResultsHome delivery has been decreased by 21% over the last decade in Ethiopia. In the last decade, 39% of the decrements in home delivery attributed to change in women’s compositional characteristics. Antenatal care visits, educational status of the women and husband, birth order, religion, wealth index and distance from a health facility were the main sources of compositional change factors for the change of home delivery. Behavioural changes towards health facility delivery contributed approximately two-thirds of the decline of home delivery in Ethiopia. Antenatal care visits, birth order and religion have significantly contributed to the change of home delivery resulted from behavioural changes towards healthcare facility utilisation over the last decade.ConclusionDespite the importance of health facility delivery, a significant number of women still deliver at home in Ethiopia. Women’s compositional characteristics and behaviour changes were significantly associated with the change in home delivery. Multisectoral educational intervention is needed to change women’s attitudes towards home delivery. Antenatal care coverage and healthcare facility coverage should increase thereby to improve healthcare facility based-delivery practice. Further research needs to be done to explore the potential barriers of health facility delivery from a religious perspective.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e045992
Author(s):  
Eugene Budu ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Richard Gyan Aboagye ◽  
Ebenezer Kwesi Armah-Ansah ◽  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to examine the association between maternal healthcare utilisation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignOur study was a cross-sectional study that used pooled data from 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsA total of 60 964 mothers of children aged 11–23 months were included in the study.Outcome variablesThe main outcome variable was complete childhood vaccination. The explanatory variables were number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, assistance during delivery and postnatal care (PNC).ResultsThe average prevalence of complete childhood vaccination was 85.6%, ranging from 67.0% in Ethiopia to 98.5% in Namibia. Our adjusted model, children whose mothers had a maximum of three ANC visits were 56% less likely to have complete vaccination, compared with those who had at least four ANC visits (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.44, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.46). Children whose mothers were assisted by traditional birth attendant/other (aOR=0.43, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.56) had lower odds of complete vaccination. The odds of complete vaccination were lower among children whose mothers did not attend PNC clinics (aOR=0.26, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.29) as against those whose mothers attended.ConclusionThe study found significant variations in complete childhood vaccination across countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal healthcare utilisation (ANC visits, skilled birth delivery, PNC attendance) had significant association with complete childhood vaccination. These findings suggest that programmes, interventions and strategies aimed at improving vaccination should incorporate interventions that can enhance maternal healthcare utilisation. Such interventions can include education and sensitisation, reducing cost of maternal healthcare and encouraging male involvement in maternal healthcare service utilisation.


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