scholarly journals Effects of deworming medication on anaemia among children aged 6–59 months in sub-Saharan Africa

2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Bauleni ◽  
Fentanesh N. Tiruneh ◽  
Tisungane E. Mwenyenkulu ◽  
Owen Nkoka ◽  
Gowokani C. Chirwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Hb Concentration ◽  
Health Programmes

Abstract Background Despite the limited knowledge regarding the effects of deworming medication (DM) on nutritional indicators in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), deworming programmes continue to be implemented in resource-limited countries. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the effects of DM on anaemia among children aged 6–59 months in SSA. Methods The analysis was performed using data obtained from 17 demographic and health surveys (DHSs) conducted in SSA. Children were considered to be anaemic if their haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was less than 11.0 g/dl, adjusting for altitude. To account for both multiple measures at the cluster level and the clustering of children within the same country, generalized linear mixed models were used to analyse the anaemia outcomes in 50,075 children aged 6–59 months. Results Overall, anaemia was reported in 61.8% of the children, and their median Hb concentration was 10.5 g/dl (interquartile range 9.4–11.5). The prevalence of anaemia ranged from 34.5% in Rwanda to 81.1% in Mali. Multivariate analyses showed that children who did not receive DM had increased odds of being anaemic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.16). Conclusions The current study revealed that DM can decrease the risk of anaemia among preschool-age children (pre-SAC) in SSA. Thus, tailored public health programmes aimed at reducing childhood anaemia need to consider deworming. However, longitudinal studies are needed to validate the association that has been reported in this cross-sectional study. Graphical Abstract

scholarly journals Maternal age at first childbirth and under-five morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa: analysis of cross-sectional data of 32 countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Age ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Odds Ratios ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Children Under Five ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background The prevalence of childhood morbidity remains high in low-and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this study, the association between maternal age at first childbirth and under-five morbidity in SSA was examined. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving nationally-representative data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 32 countries in SSA from 2010 to 2019. A sample size of 311,603 mothers of children under-five was considered. The outcome variable for this study was under-five morbidity. This variable was derived from the experience of fever, cough, and diarrhoea among children under-five. Both multilevel and binary logistic regression models were used to test the hypothesis that adolescent childbirth is associated with under-five morbidity. The results were presented as crude odds ratios (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Results Children born to mothers whose first childbirth occurred at < 20 years were 16 % times more likely to suffer from under-five morbidity, compared to those whose mothers’ first childbirth occurred at age ≥ 20 years [cOR = 1.16; CI = 1.13–1.19], and this persisted but with reduced odds after controlling for covariates [aOR = 1.10; CI = 1.07–1.12]. At the country level, children born to mothers whose first childbirth occurred at < 20 years were more likely to suffer from under-five morbidity, compared to those whose mothers’ first childbirth occurred at age ≥ 20 years in Angola, Burundi, Congo DR, Guinea, Kenya, and Uganda. Conclusions In this study, an association between adolescent childbirth and morbidity in children under five in SSA has been established. The study concludes that under-five morbidity is higher among children born to mothers whose first childbirth occurred before 20 years compared to those whose mothers’ first childbirth occurred at 20 years and above. The findings indicate that in order to reduce under-five morbidity, there is the need to deal with adolescent childbearing through cultural and social change, coupled with engagement of adolescents and stakeholders in adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes.

scholarly journals Association of Women’s Empowerment With Anaemia and Haemoglobin Concentration in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multilevel Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calistus Wilunda ◽  
Milkah Wanjohi ◽  
Risa Takahashi ◽  
Elizabeth Kimani-Murage ◽  
Antonina Mutoro
Keyword(s):  
Haemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Hb Concentration ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The relationship between different dimensions of women's empowerment and childhood anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is unclear. We assessed the associations between women’s empowerment and anaemia and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration among children using data from 72,032 women and their singleton children aged 6-59 months from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2006 and 2019 in 31 SSA countries. Of the included children, 65.8% were anaemic and the mean Hb concentration was 102.3 g/dl (SD 16.1). The odds of anaemia in children reduced with increasing empowerment in the dimensions of attitude towards violence [quintile (Q1) vs. Q5, OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.71–0.89, Ptrend <0.001], decision making (Q1 vs. Q5, OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.59–0.79, Ptrend <0.001), education (Q1 vs. Q5, OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.72–0.89, Ptrend <0.001), and social independence (Q1 vs. Q5, OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.79–1.00, Ptrend <0.015). Similarly, children’s mean Hb concentration increased with increasing women’s empowerment in all the above dimensions. In conclusion, women empowerment was associated with reduced odds of anaemia and higher Hb concentration in children. Promotion of women's empowerment may reduce the burden of childhood anaemia in SSA.

scholarly journals Beyond counting intended pregnancies among young women to understanding their associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luchuo Engelbert Bain ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
Eugene Budu ◽  
Joshua Okyere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Wealth Quintile ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background In this article we report the prevalence and determinants of intended or wanted pregnancies among young women 15–24 y of age in selected sub-Saharan African countries. Methods This cross-sectional study used pooled data from current Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019 in 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The sample size comprised 14 257 young women (15–24 y of age). Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to present the results as adjusted odds ratios. Results The prevalence of intended pregnancies was 67.7%, with the highest and lowest prevalence in Gambia (89.9%) and Namibia (37.7%), respectively. Intended pregnancy was lower among young women who had knowledge of modern contraceptives, those with a secondary/higher education and those with four or more births. Lower odds of intended pregnancy were observed among young women in the richer wealth quintile and those who lived in southern Africa. Conclusions To reduce intended pregnancies in sub-Saharan African countries such as Gambia, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, there is a need for government and non-governmental organisations to recalibrate current and past interventions such as investment in increasing formal education for women and poverty alleviation programmes, as well as augmenting job creation, including skill-building. These interventions have to be sensitive to the cultural realities of each setting, especially with regards to early marriages and womanhood.

scholarly journals 1344Interbirth interval and maternal anaemia in 21 sub-Saharan African countries: a multinational cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalayu Brhane Mruts ◽  
Gizachew Assefa Tessema ◽  
Amanuel Tesfay Gebremedhin ◽  
Jane Scott ◽  
Gavin Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Interbirth Interval ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Maternal Anaemia ◽  
Interbirth Intervals ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Anaemia is a global public health problem, which disproportionately affects women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The causes of anaemia are multifactorial, and a short interbirth interval has been identified as a potentially modifiable risk factor. However, the current evidence for the association between interbirth interval and maternal anaemia remains inconclusive. Hence, this study aimed at examining the association between the interbirth interval and maternal anaemia in SSA. Methods We conducted a multinational cross-sectional study of interbirth interval (time between two singleton live births) and maternal anaemia for 21 SSA countries using the most recent nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys, 2010-2017. Modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for confounding variables. Results There were 81,693 women included in the study (89.2% nonpregnant, 10.8% pregnant and 32.2% postpartum). Overall, 36.9% of women had anaemia (36.0% of non-pregnant, 44.3% pregnant, and 38.7% of postpartum women). Compared to a 24-35 months interbirth interval, maternal anaemia was not associated with short (&lt;24 months) interbirth intervals (aRR 1.01, 95% CI; 0. 98, 1.04) or long (≥60 months) interbirth interval (aRR 1.00, 95% CI 0.96, 1. 04). Conclusions Our finding revealed insufficient evidence that both short and long birth intervals were associated with the risk of maternal anaemia in SSA. Key messages It is unlikely that the high prevalence of maternal anaemia in SSA can be reduced by avoiding short nor long interbirth intervals.

scholarly journals Maternal healthcare utilsation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study of 29 nationally representative surveys

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 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Childhood Vaccination ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Maternal Healthcare ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan

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.

scholarly journals Unravelling the Perspectives of Day and Night Traders in Selected Markets within a Sub-Saharan African City with a Malaria Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3468
Author(s):  
Patience B. Tetteh-Quarcoo ◽  
Nicholas T. K. D. Dayie ◽  
Kevin Kofi Adutwum-Ofosu ◽  
John Ahenkorah ◽  
Emmanuel Afutu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Malaria Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African City ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: Malaria is still endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high disease burden. Misconceptions about malaria contribute to poor attitudes and practices, further increasing the burden in endemic countries. Studies have examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of malaria among different populations. However, there seems to be no available literature reporting on the perspectives of day and night market traders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on malaria KAP with a focus on day and night market traders. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving day and night market traders in 10 selected markets within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana was carried out. Data were collected from consenting respondents using a structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 760 respondents (33.3% (n = 253) night and 66.7% (n = 507) day traders) interviewed, there was no significant difference between the day and night market traders in terms of malaria KAP. Although the market traders had an overall moderate knowledge (54.0% of the day traders and 56.5% of the night traders), misconceptions about malaria (especially that it could be caused by exposure to the sun) still existed among the traders. Moreover, the majority of the traders who demonstrated high knowledge (43.98%, n = 250) did not always take laboratory tests to confirm their suspicion, indicating poor attitude. Furthermore, the market traders’ choice of drug for malaria treatment (p = 0.001) and preferred malaria treatment type (orthodox or herbal) (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with their knowledge level. Conclusions: Despite the observation that no significant difference in KAP exists between day and night market traders, appropriate health education programs and interventions still need to be directed at misconceptions, poor attitudes, and poor practices revealed by this study. This will ultimately help in the prevention and control of malaria in Ghana, and globally.

scholarly journals Predictors of HIV Testing among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e0164052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibitola O. Asaolu ◽  
Jayleen K. Gunn ◽  
Katherine E. Center ◽  
Mary P. Koss ◽  
Juliet I. Iwelunmor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Prevalence of Anemia and Undernutrition of Adolescent Females in Selected Schools in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Marina Aferiba Tandoh ◽  
Abigail Owusuaa Appiah ◽  
Anthony Kwaku Edusei
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Adolescent Females ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Poor Nutrition ◽  
Prevalence Of Anemia

Anemia among adolescent females is a major worldwide public health problem which should be given appropriate attention. Half of all anemic cases are caused by iron deficiency. In addition to anemia, poor nutrition is also a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. This study determined the prevalence of anemia and undernutrition among adolescent females in school. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 adolescent females in four basic schools in the Ahafo region of Ghana. The hemoglobin level and anthropometry measures of participants were taken to determine their anemic and nutritional status. The prevalence of anemia among adolescent females in school was 50.3%. Out of the 151 participants, 6.6%, 19.9%, and 23.8% were severely anemic, moderately anemic, or mildly anemic, respectively. Only 2% of the participants were underweight, but the rate of stunting was 26.5%. The notable high prevalence of anemia that was found among adolescent females was correlated with other health and wellness concerns. Anemia and under nutrition negatively affect academic performance, productivity, and general wellbeing of adolescents; therefore, effective measures should be put in place to correct and eradicate these nutritional problems.

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