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

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebretsadik Shibre ◽  
Betregiorgis Zegeye ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Dina Idriss-Wheeler ◽  
Mpho Keetile ◽  
...  

Abstract 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.

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 785-792
Author(s):  
Sanni Yaya ◽  
Betregiorgis Zegeye ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Olanrewaju Oladimeji ◽  
Gebretsadik Shibre

Abstract Background Inequalities in neonatal mortality rates (NMRs) in low- and middle-income countries show key disparities at the detriment of disadvantaged population subgroups. There is a lack of scholarly evidence on the extent and reasons for the inequalities in NMRs in Angola. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the socio-economic, place of residence, region and gender inequalities in the NMRs in Angola. Methods The World Health Organization Health Equity Assessment Toolkit software was used to analyse data from the 2015 Angola Demographic and Health Survey. Five equity stratifiers: subnational regions, education, wealth, residence and sex were used to disaggregate NMR inequality. Absolute and relative inequality measures, namely, difference, population attributable fraction (PAF), population attributable risk (PAR) and ratio, were calculated to provide a broader understanding of the inequalities in NMR. Statistical significance was calculated at corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals. Findings We found significant wealth-driven [PAR = −14.16, 95% corresponding interval (CI): −15.12, −13.19], education-related (PAF = −22.5%, 95% CI: −25.93, −19.23), urban–rural (PAF = −14.5%, 95% CI: −16.38, −12.74), sex-based (PAR = −5.6%, 95% CI: −6.17, −5.10) and subnational regional (PAF = −82.2%, 95% CI: −90.14, −74.41) disparities in NMRs, with higher burden among deprived population subgroups. Conclusions High NMRs were found among male neonates and those born to mothers with no formal education, poor mothers and those living in rural areas and the Benguela region. Interventions aimed at reducing NMRs, should be designed with specific focus on disadvantaged subpopulations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collins Adu ◽  
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽  
Pascal Agbadi ◽  
Ebenezer Agbaglo ◽  
Justice Kanor Tetteh ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundOver the years, Ghana has made significant improvements in the nutritional status of children, particularly concerning stunting. Though these improvements are commendable, there are concerns of inequalities in the prevalence of stunting among children under five. To this end, we examined the trends and inequalities in the determinants of stunting prevalence in children under five in Ghana, throughout 1998-2014.MethodsUsing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software, we analysed data from the 1998-2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS). We approached the inequality analysis in two steps. First, we disaggregated stunting prevalence among children < 5 years by five equity stratifiers: wealth index, education, sex, residence, and region. Second, we measured the inequality through summary measures, namely Difference, Population Attributable Risk, Ratio, and Population Attributable Fraction. A 95% confidence interval was constructed for point estimates to measure statistical significance.ResultsConcerning economic status, only the simple summary measures (Difference [D], Ratio [R]) showed significant inequality in stunting. For instance, both D (23.40; 17.55-29.25) and R (2.43; 1.78-3.09) revealed substantial economic variation in stunting in 1998 and the same trend was noted across all the survey years. The complex summary measures, however, showed a significant but negative association. Both D (16.36; 12.13-20.60) and R (1.90; 1.51-2.28) revealed a positive significant disparity in favour of urban residents in 1998. The simple measures further indicated a significant disparity in stunting at the detriment of male children throughout the period studied. Finally, a significant disparity at the expense of children in the Northern Region was evident in 1998 (D=31.00; R=3.22), 2003 (D=37.21; R=3.17) and 2014 (D=22.73; R=3.19).ConclusionInequalities in stunting prevalence in Ghana is to the disadvantaged children of poorest wealth quintile, mothers with no formal education, male children, rural residents and the Northern Region of Ghana. We recommend the introduction and strengthening of equitable interventions focusing on nutrition on sub-populations in the country who suffer from a higher burden of stunting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebretsadik Shibre ◽  
Betregiorgis Zegeye ◽  
Gashaw Garedew Woldeamanuiel ◽  
Wassie Negash ◽  
Gorems Lemma ◽  
...  

Abstract Background While the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, the growing rates of overweight and obesity in developing countries are disquieting. Obesity is widely recognized as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Available evidence on whether obesity has been more prevalent among higher or lower socioeconomic groups, across regions and urban-rural women’s are inconsistent. This study examined magnitude of and trends in socioeconomic, urban-rural and sub-national region inequalities in obesity prevalence among non-pregnant women in Chad. Method Using cross-sectional data from Chad Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) conducted in 1996, 2004 and 2014; we used the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) to analyze socio-economic, urban-rural and regional inequalities in obesity prevalence among non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years. Inequalities were assessed using four equity stratifiers namely wealth index, educational level, place of residence and subnational region. We presented inequalities using simple and complex as well as relative and absolute summary measures such as Difference (D), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Ratio (R). Results Though constant pattern overtime, both wealth-driven and place of residence inequality were observed in all three surveys by Difference measure and in the first and last surveys by Ratio measure. Similarly, including the recent survey (D = -2.80, 95% CI:-4.15, − 1.45, R = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.50) absolute (in 1996 & 2014 survey) and relative (in all three surveys) educational status inequality with constant pattern were observed. Substantial absolute (PAR = -2.2, 95% CI: − 3.21, − 1.34) and relative (PAF = − 91.9, 95% CI: − 129.58, − 54.29) regional inequality was observed with increasing and constant pattern by simple (D) and complex (PAR, PAF) measures. Conclusion The study showed socioeconomic and area-based obesity inequalities that disfavored women in higher socioeconomic status and residing in urban areas. Prevention of obesity prevalence should be government and stakeholders’ priority through organizing the evidence, health promotion and prevention interventions for at risk population and general population.


Author(s):  
Betregiorgis Zegeye ◽  
Gebretsadik Shibre ◽  
Dina Idriss-Wheeler ◽  
Sanni Yaya

Abstract Background The decrease in the magnitude of stunting over the past 20 years has been slow in Ethiopia. To date, in Ethiopia, the trends in and extent of inequality in stunting have not been investigated using methods suitably developed for disparity studies. This paper investigated both the extent and overtime dynamics of stunting inequality in Ethiopia over the last 17 years. Methods Using the World Health Organization’s Health Equity Assessment Toolkit software, data from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health surveys (EDHS) were analyzed between 2000 and 2016. The inequality analysis consisted of disaggregated rates of stunting using five equity stratifiers (economic status, education, residence, region and sex) and four summary measures (Difference, Population Attributable risk, Ratio and Absolute Concentration Index). A 95% uncertainty interval was constructed around point estimates to measure statistical significance. Results The study showed that both absolute and relative inequalities in stunting exist in all the studied years in Ethiopia. The inequality disfavors children of mothers who are poor, uneducated and living in rural areas and specific regions such as Amhara. The pro-rich (R = 1.2; 1.1, 1.3 in 2000 to R = 1.7; 1.4, 2 in 2016) and pro-educated (R = 1.6; 95%UI = 1.3, 1.9 in 2000 and R = 2.3; 95%UI = 1.5, 3 in 2011) inequalities slightly increased with time. Male children bear a disproportionately higher burden of stunting, and the disparity increased between the first and the last time points (PAR = −1.5 95%UI = −2.5, −0.6 in 2000 and PAR = −2.9 95%UI = −3.9, −1.9) based on complex measures but remained constant with simple measures (R = 1; 95%UI = 0.9, 1.1 in 2000 and R = 1.1 95%UI = 1, 1.2 in 2016). Similarly, both the sub-national regional and residence-related stunting disparities generally widened over time according to some of the inequality measures. Conclusions Stunting appeared to be highly prevalent among certain sub-groups (i.e. poor, uneducated and living in rural regions). The subpopulations experiencing excessively high stunting prevalence should be the focus of policy makers’ attention as they work to achieve the WHO 40% reduction in stunting target by 2025 and the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiran Acharya ◽  
Yuba Raj Paudel ◽  
Chandra Mani Dhungana

Abstract Background Sustainable development goals require member countries to reduce maternal mortality ratio below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Addressing inequalities in accessing emergency obstetric care is crucial for reducing the maternal mortality ratio. This study was undertaken to examine the time trends and socio-demographic inequalities in the utilization of cesarean section (CS) in Nepal during the period of 2006 and 2016.Methods Data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2006, 2011 and2016 were sourced for this study. Women who had a live birth in the last five years of the survey (most recent birth if there were two or more childbirths) were the unit of analysis for this study. Absolute and relative inequalities in CS rates were expressed in-terms of rate difference and rate ratios, respectively. We used binary logistic regression models to assess the rate of cesarean sections by background socio-demographic characteristics of women. Results Age and parity adjusted CS rates were found to have increased almost three-fold (from 3.2%,95% CI:2.1-4.3 in 2006 to 10.5%;95% CI:8.9-11.9 in 2016) over the decade. In 2016, women from Mountain region (3.0%;95% CI:1.1-4.9), those from poorest wealth quintile (2.4%,95% CI:(1.2-3.7) and those living in province 6(2.4%,95% CI:1.3-3.5) had CS rate below 5%. Whereas, women from the richest income quintile (25.1%,95% CI :20.2-30.1), with higher education (21.2%,95% CI:14.7-27.8) and those delivering in private facilities (37.1%,95% CI:30.5-43.7) had CS rate above 15%. Women from the richest income quintile (OR-3.3,95% CI: 1.6-7.0) and those delivered in private/NGO-run facilities (OR-3.6;95% CI:2.7-4.9) were more than three times more likely to deliver by CS compared to women from the poorest income quintile and those delivering in public facilities, respectively. Conclusion To improve maternal and newborn health, strategies need to be revised to address the underuse of C-section in poor, mountain region and province 2, province 5, province 6 and province 7 so that universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services is ensured. Simultaneously, there is a pressing need for policies, guidelines and continuous monitoring of CS rates to reduce overuse in rich women, women with higher education and those delivered in private facilities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Kencho Wangdi ◽  
Mongal S. Gurung ◽  
Dorji Pelzom ◽  
Tashi Dema ◽  
Sonam Wangdi

Introduction: The estimated global maternal deaths in 2013 was 289000. In Bhutan, Maternal Mortality Ratio has remarkably declined from 770 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1984 to 86 in 2012. However, the maternal mortality ratio still remains high and a high proportion of delivery still take place at homes (26%) despite of adopting 100%institutional delivery policy ever since 2005. This study was carried out to determine the important factors that prevent women from coming to the health facilities for safe delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study among the women who delivered in Chukha District in 2013 was carried out after seeking ethical approval from Research Ethics Board of Health and World Health Organization. Chukha is a district with the second highest number of population in Bhutan where 55.7% of the people live in rural villages. Results: Out of 899 eligible listed women, 78.1% participated in the study and among the participants 11.5% had delivered at home. The number of home deliveries was higher in rural areas, 17.3%, as compared to urban places, 6.4%. Women who were delivering for third or more times are 2.42 times more likely to give birth at home compared to women who were delivering for the first time. Women residing at places more than three hours away from the health facility were 2.58 times more likely to give birth at home compared to women residing less than three hours away. During their last pregnancy, 99.4% of the participants have sought at least one ANC. Conclusions: This study suggests that the two most important factors associated with home delivery are the distance to health facility from their residences and the parity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samira Maerrawi Haddad ◽  
Jose Guilherme Cecatti ◽  
Joao Paulo Souza ◽  
Maria Helena Sousa ◽  
Mary Angela Parpinelli ◽  
...  

Objective. To assess quality of care of women with severe maternal morbidity and to identify associated factors.Method. This is a national multicenter cross-sectional study performing surveillance for severe maternal morbidity, using the World Health Organization criteria. The expected number of maternal deaths was calculated with the maternal severity index (MSI) based on the severity of complication, and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for each center was estimated. Analyses on the adequacy of care were performed.Results. 17 hospitals were classified as providing adequate and 10 as nonadequate care. Besides almost twofold increase in maternal mortality ratio, the main factors associated with nonadequate performance were geographic difficulty in accessing health services (P<0.001), delays related to quality of medical care (P=0.012), absence of blood derivatives (P=0.013), difficulties of communication between health services (P=0.004), and any delay during the whole process (P=0.039).Conclusions. This is an example of how evaluation of the performance of health services is possible, using a benchmarking tool specific to Obstetrics. In this study the MSI was a useful tool for identifying differences in maternal mortality ratios and factors associated with nonadequate performance of care.


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 445-553
Author(s):  
SADIA KHAN ◽  
ASMA TANVEER USMANI ◽  
NAILA IFTIKHAR

Objective: The women residing in a developing country have 200 times greater risk of suffering from pregnancy and childbirthrelated mortality compared with the women of a developed country. To investigate relevant causes and the determinants of maternal mortalitythrough conducting scientific clinical studies. Methodologies: We conducted a prospective study of maternal deaths in the obstetrics andgynaecology unit of RGH for one year. Period: January 2007 to December 2007. We investigated the socio-demographic variables - includingage, parity, socio-economic status and literacy - along with the social behavior towards the antenatal. We designed standardized data collectingforms to collect data from the confidential hospital notes of the patients. The collected medical data of the patients proved useful in analyzingthe underlying causes and the risk factors behind direct and indirect maternal mortalities. Results: In our unit, we have recorded 28 maternaldeaths during the study period. 24 (86%) deaths are due to the direct causes and 4 (14%) are due to the indirect causes. The leading directcauses are hemorrhage 9 (37.5%), eclampsia 7 (29%), septicemia 5 (21%) and anaesthesia complications 2 (8%). Similarly, the distributionof indirect causes is: blood transfusion reactions 2 (50 %), hepatic failure 2 (50 %), Consequently, crude maternal mortality rate can beextrapolated at 645 per 100,000 maternities and maternal mortality ratio at 659 per 100,000 live births. The socio demographics of the deadmothers are: 16 (57%) patients in the age group of 25-35 years, 13 (52%) are multiparas (G2-G4) and 10 (36%) are grandmulti para i.e. G5and above. Moreover, 13 (46%) of them expired at term. The majority of them is illiterate and belongs to lower socio-economic group. 14 (42%)mothers have not received antenatal care and just 4 (15%) of them have received antenatal care from RGH or other hospital. 23 (92%) patientshave been suffering from anemia and we received 15 (54%) of them in a critical state with the hospital stay of less than 12 hours. C o n c l u s i o n :In our study hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the leading causes of maternal deaths. We argue that most of thesematernal deaths could have been possibly avoided by periodic interventions during the pregnancy, child birth and the postpartum period.


2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adamson S Muula ◽  
Angela Phiri

Despite various programmes aimed at reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and improving reproductive health globally, and in Malawi especially, the 2000 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) reported an MMR for Malawi as 1221 deaths per 100 000 live births. This represented an almost 80% rise from the 620 maternal deaths/100 000 live births estimated in the 1992 DHS. The possible reasons behind the rise in the MMR include: the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic in Malawi with an estimated infection rate of 14%; and the deteriorating healthcare situation and inherent inaccuracies in the estimation of maternal mortality. Continued surveillance and identification of factors responsible for the deterioration of Malawi's MMR are suggested. It is necessary to design, implement and evaluate corrective measures in order to improve the situation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hocheol Lee ◽  
Sung Jong Park ◽  
Grace O. Ndombi ◽  
Eun Woo Nam

Abstract Background Despite efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the maternal mortality ratio in the Democratic Republic of Congo was 693 per 100,000 in 2015—the 6th highest in the world and higher than the average (547 per 100,000) in sub-Saharan Africa. Antenatal care (ANC) service is a cost-effective intervention for reducing the maternal mortality ratio in low-income countries. This study aimed to identify the intervention effect of the maternal and child health care (MCH) project on the use of four or more (4+) ANC services. Methods The MCH project was implemented using the three delays model in Kenge city by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) of the DRC with technical assistance from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Yonsei Global Health Center from 2014 to 2017. Furthermore, Boko city was selected as the control group. A baseline and an endline survey were conducted in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this project. We interviewed 602 and 719 participants in Kenge, and 150 and 614 participants in Boko in the baseline and endline surveys, respectively. We interviewed married reproductive-aged women (19–45 years old) in both cities annually. The study instruments were developed based on the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. This study used the homogeneity test and the binary logistic regression difference-in-differences method of analysis. Results The odds of reproductive-aged women’s 4+ ANC service utilization at the intervention site increased 2.280 times from the baseline (OR: 2.280, 95% CI: 1.332–3.902, p = .003) as compared to the control site. Conclusions This study showed that the KOICA MCH project effectively increased the 4+ ANC utilization by reproductive-aged women in Kenge. As the 4+ ANC services are expected to reduce maternal deaths, this project might have contributed to reducing maternal mortality in Kenge. In the future, we expect these findings to inform MCH policies of the MoPH in the DRC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document