Socio-Economic Status and Child Health: Does Public Health Insurance Narrow the Gap?

The study established the influence of birth spacing on maternal and child health in Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) nursing mothers that registered with the maternal and child care units of Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Complex in Ile-Ife area constituted the sample for the study. Their ages ranged from 20years to 55 years with a mean age of 34.5 years and standard deviation of 6.5. The two instruments used were author-constructed questionnaires with 0.66 and 0.69 reliability coefficient respectively. The data obtained were analyzed using multiple regression and chi-square statistics. The results obtained from the study indicated that, a combination of the six independent variables significantly predicted the dependent variable F= (115.813); R= .703, R2 = .494, Adj. R2 = .489; P<.05). The results also indicated that, significant relationship existed between the health histories (B = 5.755, T =8.844), behavior of individual women (B = 5.575, T = 2.284), utilization of reproductive health services (B = 5.558, T =8.495), family background (B = 5.121, T =10.633), contraceptive use (B= -2.670, T= 10.722) and socio-economic status (B =-2.648, T =6.322) and maternal and child health. The results further showed the significant position between health histories (X2 cal = 33.956) is the most potent factor followed behaviors of the individual women (X2 cal = 29.762); utilization of reproductive health services (X2 cal = 16.986); family backgrounds (X2 cal = 12.716); contraceptive use (X2 cal = 5.969); and socio-economic status (X2 cal = 1.268) and maternal and child health. Based on the results of these findings, it was recommended that nursing mothers should be made to be aware of the inherent dangers of inadequate birth spacing such as increased risk of premature membrane rupture, uteroplacental bleeding disorders, poor health for both the mother and the child, miscarriage or induced abortion and consequently death.

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Associations Between Socio-Economic Status and Child Health: Findings of a Large German Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16050677 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 677 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Tanja Poulain ◽

Mandy Vogel ◽

Carolin Sobek ◽

Anja Hilbert ◽

Antje Körner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Child Health ◽

Parental Education ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Economic Status ◽

Strong Association ◽

Social Background ◽

Behavioral Difficulties ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

And Child Health

The familial social background of a child can significantly impact their behavior and health. We investigated associations between socio-economic status (SES) and health parameters and behaviors in German children and adolescents. Data were collected between 2011 and 2018 in the framework of the LIFE Child study. Participants included 2998 children aged 3–18 years. SES was represented by an index combining information on parental education, occupation, and income. Associations between SES and health outcomes were estimated using linear and logistic regression analyses. In a moderator analysis, all associations were checked for interactions between SES and age or sex. A higher SES composite score was associated with better health (lower body mass index (β = −0.26), fewer behavioral difficulties (β = −0.18), higher quality of life (β = 0.21), fewer critical life events (odds ratio (OR) = 0.93); all p < 0.05) and a healthier lifestyle (healthier nutrition (β = 0.16), less excessive television use (OR = 0.87), less nicotine consumption (OR = 0.93), and more physical activity (OR = 1.18); all p < 0.05). However, SES was not associated with alcohol consumption (OR = 1.02) or sleep problems (β = −0.04). The strengths of the associations between SES and child health did not differ depending on SES indicator (education, occupation, income). The associations between SES and parent-reported behavioral difficulties and physical activity were stronger in older vs. younger children. In contrast, none of the observed associations were moderated by sex. This study highlights the strong association between socio-economic status and child health, even in modern Western societies.

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