scholarly journals Water and sanitation influence on child health in Namibia: using demographic and health surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Abdelhady ◽  
Anna Alfeus ◽  
Ndinomholo Hamatui
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Child Death ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Child's Death ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Important milestones in reducing child mortality rates have been achieved internationally and in Africa. With 76 deaths per 1,000 live births, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to have the world's highest under-five mortality (U5M) rate. In SSA, one child in every 13 dies from preventable causes before reaching their fifth birthday. This study sought to determine the impact of demographic, socio-economic, and environmental determinants on child health in Namibia, using the Namibian demographic and health surveys (NDHS) from 2006 and 2013. A logistic regression model was used to determine the association between improved sanitary facilities and water sources and U5M in Namibia. Improved access to sanitation facilities in Namibia is associated with less U5M rate, according to the 2013 survey. No significant association was observed between improved access to safe water and child's death. In 2013, the greater the mother's level of education, the lower the chance of child death. Finally, the findings demonstrate that mothers with HIV-positive are more likely to experience under-five death. Hence, the Namibian government should increase sanitation facilities and promote maternal healthcare services for less fortunate households to lower the U5M rate.

scholarly journals The impact of antenatal care on under‐five mortality in Ethiopia: a difference‐in‐differences analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Oduse ◽  
Temesgen Zewotir ◽  
Delia North
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Child Survival ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
P Value ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Sub-Saharan Africa, as opposed to other regions, has the highest under-five mortality rates yet makes the least improvement in reducing under-five mortality. Despite the decline, Ethiopia is among the top ten countries contributing the most to global under-five mortalities. This article examines the impact of the number of antenatal care and the timing of first antenatal care on child health outcomes. We specifically investigated if the utilization of antenatal care services positively affects the reduction of under-five mortality. Methods We employ a difference-in-differences design with propensity score matching to identify direct causal effects of antenatal care on under-five mortality based on the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey data of 2011 and 2016. Our sample includes 22 295 women between the ages of 14–49 who had antenatal care visits at different times before delivery. Results The study revealed 1 481 cases of reported under-five mortality. 99.0% of that under-five mortality cases are women who had less than eight antenatal care visits, while only 1% of that is by women who had eight or more antenatal care visits. Antenatal care visit decreases the likelihood of under-five mortality in Ethiopia by 45.2% (CI = 19.2–71.3%, P-value < 0.001) while the timing of first antenatal care within the first trimester decreases the likelihood of under-five mortality by 10% (CI = 5.7–15.6%, P-value < 0.001). Conclusions To achieve a significant reduction in the under-five mortality rate, Intervention programs that encourages more antenatal care visits should be considered. This will improve child survival and help in attaining Sustainable Development Goal targets.

Changing sex differences in undernutrition of African children: findings from Demographic and Health Surveys

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Michel Garenne ◽  
Susan Thurstans ◽  
André Briend ◽  
Carmel Dolan ◽  
Tanya Khara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Growth Charts ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Male To Female ◽  
Height For Age ◽  
Weight For Age

Abstract The study investigates sex differences in the prevalence of undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. Undernutrition was defined by Z-scores using the CDC-2000 growth charts. Some 128 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) were analysed, totalling 700,114 children under-five. The results revealed a higher susceptibility of boys to undernutrition. Male-to-female ratios of prevalence averaged 1.18 for stunting (height-for-age Z-score <−2.0); 1.01 for wasting (weight-for-height Z-score <−2.0); 1.05 for underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <−2.0); and 1.29 for concurrent wasting and stunting (weight-for-height and height-for-age Z-scores <−2.0). Sex ratios of prevalence varied with age for stunting and concurrent wasting and stunting, with higher values for children age 0–23 months and lower values for children age 24–59 months. Sex ratios of prevalence tended to increase with declining level of mortality for stunting, underweight and concurrent wasting and stunting, but remained stable for wasting. Comparisons were made with other anthropometric reference sets (NCHS-1977 and WHO-2006), and the results were found to differ somewhat from those obtained with CDC-2000. Possible rationales for these patterns are discussed.

scholarly journals Is there a relationship between female genital mutilation/cutting and fistula? A statistical analysis using cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 10 sub-Saharan Africa countries

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e025355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Juma Matanda ◽  
Pooja Sripad ◽  
Charity Ndwiga
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Common Belief ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Female Genital

ObjectivesLiterature on associations between female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and fistula points to a common belief that FGM/C predisposes women to developing fistula. This study explores this association using nationally representative survey data.DesignA secondary statistical analysis of cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys was conducted to explore the association between FGM/C and fistula.SettingSub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsWomen aged 15–49 years in Burkina Faso (n=17 087), Chad (n=17 719), Côte d’Ivoire (n=10 060), Ethiopia (n=14 070), Guinea (n=9142), Kenya (n=31 079), Mali (n=10 424), Nigeria (n=33 385), Senegal (n=15 688) and Sierra Leone (n=16 658).Main outcome measuresFistula symptoms.ResultsMultivariate logit modelling using pooled data from 10 countries showed that the odds of reporting fistula symptoms were 1.5 times (CI 1.06 to 2.21) higher for women whose genitals were cut and sewn closed than those who had undergone other types of FGM/C. Women who attended antenatal care (ANC) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.51, CI 0.36 to 0.71) and those who lived in urban areas (AOR 0.62, CI 0.44 to 0.89) were less likely to report fistula symptoms than those who did not attend ANC or lived in rural areas.ConclusionsSevere forms of FGM/C (infibulation) may predispose women to fistula. Contextual and socioeconomic factors may increase the likelihood of fistula. Multisectoral interventions that concurrently address harmful traditional practices such as FGM/C and other contextual factors that drive the occurrence of fistula are warranted. Promotion of ANC utilisation could be a starting point in the prevention of fistulas.

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