Identifying geographical inequalities of maternal care utilization in Ethiopia: a Spatio-temporal analysis from 2005 to 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Inequalities in maternal care utilization pose a significant threat to maternal health programs. This study aimed to describe and explain the spatial variation in maternal care utilization among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Accordingly, this study focuses on identifying hotspots of underutilization and mapping maternal care utilization, as well as identifying predictors of spatial clustering in maternal care utilization. METHODS: We evaluated three key indicators of maternal care utilization: pregnant women who received no antenatal care (ANC) service from a skilled provider, utilization of four or more ANC visits, and births attended in a health facility, based the Ethiopian National Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS5) to 2019. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was used to measure whether maternal care utilization was dispersed, clustered, or randomly distributed in the study area. Getis-Ord Gi statistics examined how Spatio-temporal variations differed through the study location and ordinary Kriging interpolation predicted maternal care utilization in the unsampled areas. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to identify predictors of geographic variation, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) examined the spatial variability relationships between maternal care utilization and selected predictors. RESULT: A total of 26,702 pregnant women were included, maternal care utilization varies geographically across surveys. Overall, statistically significant low maternal care utilization hotspots were identified in the Somali region. Low hotspot areas were also identified in northern Ethiopia, stretching into the Amhara, Afar, and Beneshangul-Gumuz regions; and the southern part of Ethiopia and the Gambella region. Spatial regression analysis revealed that geographical variations in maternal care utilization indicators were commonly explained by the number of under-five children, the wealth index, and media access. In addition, the mother's educational status significantly explained pregnant women, received no ANC service and utilized ANC service four or more times. Whereas, the age of a mother at first birth was a spatial predictor of pregnant who received no ANC service from a skilled provider. CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, it is vital to plan to combat maternal care inequalities in a manner suitable for the district-specific variations. Predictors of geographical variation identified during spatial regression analysis can inform efforts to achieve geographical equity in maternal care utilization.

Trends and predictors of the use of unskilled birth attendants among Ethiopian mothers from 2000 to 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that home delivery assisted by unskilled individuals contributes to maternal and neonatal deaths in developing countries. It also increases the risks of long-term maternal morbidities such as uterine prolapse, pelvic inflammatory disease, fistula, incontinence and infertility. This study aimed to determine the trends and predictors of the use of unskilled birth attendants among Ethiopian mothers from 2000 to 2016. METHODS: This study USED used the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data for the years 2000 (n = 10,873), 2005 (n = 9,861), 2011 (n = 11,654) and 2016 (n = 10,641) to estimate the trends in the use of unskilled birth attendants. Multinomial logistic regression models with adjustment for clustering and sampling weights were used to investigate the association between the independent and outcome outcome variables. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that while births attended by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) increased from 28% in 2000 to 42% in 2016, home deliveries decreased slightly from 94% to 73%. Rural residence is associated with increased odds of using unskilled birth attendants. High and middle household wealth, educational status of the women and their partners (>primary), four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits, having any form of employment and mass media engagement were significantly associated with decreased odds of unskilled birth attendant utilization during child birth in Ethiopia. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this analysis show that the proportion of Ethiopian women giving birth without a skilled attendant is high. Interventions aiming to improve skilled attendance during childbirth should focus on the individual, community and need factors of Anderson's behavioural model.

Postnatal Care Service Utilisation in Ethiopia: Reflecting on 20 Years of Demographic and Health Survey Data.

BACKGROUND: Most maternal deaths in the world occur during the postpartum period, especially within the first two days following delivery. This makes postnatal care (PNC) critical to improving the chances of maternal and child survival. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of women receiving antenatal care (ANC) in Ethiopia has increased while the proportion of those receiving PNC has remained low. This study aimed to understand the trends, determinants and urban-rural variations of PNC service utilisation. METHODS: This study draws on the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data for the years 2000 (n = 4552), 2005 (n = 4467), 2011 (n = 4445) and 2016 (n = 4275) to estimate the trends and determinants of PNC service utilisation. Multivariate logistic regression models with adjustment for clustering and sampling weights were used to investigate the association between the independent factors, the study factors and PNC service utilisation. RESULTS: Over the twenty-year period of the EDHS, the proportion of Ethiopian women who received PNC services increased from 5.6% (95% CI: 4.6-6.9%) in 2000 to 18.5% (95% CI: 16.4-20.7%) in 2016. Similarly, women who received PNC services in urban areas increased from 15.2% (95% CI: 23.6-30.7%) in 2000 to 47% (95% CI: 60.4-67.3%) in 2016. Women who were in the wealthy quintile, had ANC visits, delivered in a health facility, and delivered by caesarean section were most likely to have PNC. The present study also showed that whilst birth spacing was a significant factor among urban women, wealth index, ANC visits, and perception of health facility distance were significant factors among rural women. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests low levels of utilisation of PNC among Ethiopian women from rural districts. Geographically targeted interventions with a focus on low-socioeconomic rural women, and those with no previous contacts with the health system during pregnancy, are needed to improve PNC in Ethiopia.

Maternal health service utilisation of adolescent women in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in the world. While pregnancy during adolescence poses higher risks for the mother and the baby, the utilisation of maternity care to mitigate the effects is low. This review aimed to synthesise evidence on adolescent mothers' utilisation of maternity care in Sub-Saharan Africa and identify the key determinant factors that influence adolescent mothers' engagement with maternity care. METHOD: A systematic review of scholarly literature involving seven databases: ProQuest, PubMed, EMBASE/Elsevier, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Infomit was conducted. Studies published in English between 1990 and 2017 that examined Sub-Saharan adolescent mothers' experiences of utilising biomedical maternity care during pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period were included. RESULTS: From 296 relevant articles 27 were identified that represent the experience of adolescent mothers' maternal health service utilisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review indicates that maternal health service utilisation in the majority of Sub-Saharan African countries is still low. There is also a wide discrepancy in the use of maternity care services by adolescent mothers across countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. CONCLUSIONS: The review reveals that a significant number of adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa do not access and use maternity services during pregnancy. Several factors from individual to systemic levels contributed to low access and utilisation. This implies that interventions targeting the women, their partners, healthcare professionals, communities and the organisations (local to national) are necessary to improve adolescent mother's engagement with maternity care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Trends and Determinants of Antenatal Care Service Use in Ethiopia between 2000 and 2016.

: Antenatal care (ANC) services are an essential intervention for improving maternal and child health worldwide. In Ethiopia, however, ANC service use has been suboptimal, and examining the trends and factors associated with ANC service use is needed to inform targeted maternal health care interventions. This study aimed to investigate the trends and determinants of ANC service utilisation in Ethiopia for the period ranging from 2000 to 2016. This study draws on the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data for the years 2000 (n = 7928), 2005 (n = 7276), 2011 (n = 7881) and 2016 (n = 7558) to estimate the trends in ANC service utilisation. Multivariate logistic regression models with adjustment for clustering and sampling weights were used to investigate the association between the study factors and ANC service utilisation. Over the sixteen-year period, the proportion of Ethiopian women who received the recommended four or more ANC visits increased from 10.0% (95% confidence interval (95% CI: 8.7⁻12.5%) in 2000 to 32.0% (95% CI: 29.4⁻34.3%) in 2016. Similarly, the proportion of women who received one to three ANC visits increased from 27.0% (95% CI: 23.6⁻30.7%) in 2000 to 62.0% in 2016 (95% CI: 60.4⁻67.3%). Multivariate analyses showed that higher maternal and paternal education, higher household wealth status, urban residency and previous use of a contraceptive were associated with ANC service use (1⁻3 and 4+ ANC visits). The study suggests that while Ethiopian pregnant women's engagement with ANC services improved during the millennium development goal era (2000⁻2015), recommended ANC use remains suboptimal. Improving the utilisation of ANC services among pregnant women is essential in Ethiopia, and efforts should focus on vulnerable women.

Association between skilled maternal healthcare and postpartum contraceptive use in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The postpartum period provides an important opportunity to address unmet need for contraception and reduce short birth intervals. This study aims to assess the association between skilled maternal healthcare and postpartum contraceptive use in Ethiopia. METHODS: Data for this analysis come from the 2011 to 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) and include nearly 5000 married women of reproductive age with a recent birth. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to investigate the relationship between skilled maternal healthcare and postpartum contraceptive use. RESULTS: Between rounds of the 2011 and 2016 EDHS, the postpartum contraceptive prevalence increased from 15 to 23% and delivery in public facilities, use of skilled birth assistance, and skilled antenatal care also grew. In both survey rounds, educated women had approximately twice the odds of postpartum contraceptive use, compared with non-educated women, while an initially significant relationship between wealth and postpartum contraceptive use diminished in significance by 2016. Women with a desire to limit future pregnancy had five to six times the odds of postpartum contraceptive use in both survey rounds, and women in 2016 - unlike those in 2011 - with a desire to delay pregnancy were significantly more likely to use contraception (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.38, 95% CI: 1.46-13.18) compared to women who wanted another child soon. In 2011, no statistically significant associations were found between any maternal healthcare and postpartum contraceptive use. In contrast, in 2016, postpartum contraceptive use was significantly associated with an institutional delivery (AOR = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-2.62) and skilled antenatal care (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.41-4.10). No significant relationship was observed in either survey round between postpartum contraceptive use and skilled delivery or postnatal care. CONCLUSIONS: A comparison of postpartum women in the 2011 and 2016 EDHS reveals increased use of both contraception and skilled maternal healthcare services and improved likelihood of contraceptive use among women with an institutional delivery or antenatal care, perhaps as a result of increased attention to postpartum family planning integration. Additionally, results suggest postpartum women are now using contraception to space future pregnancies, with the potential to help women achieve more optimal birth intervals.

Contraceptive use in women with hypertension and diabetes: cross-sectional study in northwest Ethiopia.

PURPOSE: Women with diabetes and hypertension are at increased risk of pregnancy complications, including those from surgical delivery and their offspring are at risk for congenital anomalies. Thus, diabetic and hypertensive women of reproductive age are advised to use valid contraceptive methods for reducing unwanted pregnancy and its complications. However, contraceptive use among these segments of the population had not been previously assessed in Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess contraceptive use and associated factors among diabetic and hypertensive women of reproductive age on chronic follow-up care at University of Gondar and Felege Hiwot Hospitals. METHODS: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2012 among diabetic and hypertensive women on follow-up at the chronic illness care center. The sample size calculated was 403. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were collected using interview supplemented by chart review. The data were entered using EPI info Version 2000 and analyzed using SPSS Version 16. Frequencies, proportion, and summary statistics were used to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were run to see the association of each independent variable with contraceptive practice. RESULTS: A total of 392 married women on chronic follow-up care were interviewed making the response rate of 93.3%. The contraceptive prevalence rate was found to be 53.8%. Factors such as age 25-34 years (adjusted odds ratio, AOR [95% confidence interval, CI] =3.60 [1.05-12.36]), (AOR [95% CI] =2.29 [1.15-4.53]), having middle- and high-level incomes (AOR [95% CI] =2.12 [1.19-3.77]), (AOR [95% CI] =5.03 [2.19-11.54]), receiving provider counseling (AOR [95% CI] =9.02 [4.40-18.49]), and controlled disease condition (AOR [95% CI] =4.13 [2.35-7.28]) were significantly associated with contraceptive practice. CONCLUSION: The contraceptive utilization of women on diabetes and hypertension follow-up care was found to be low. Hence, strengthening counseling and education about family planning and controlling their medical conditions would help increase the contraceptive uptake of women on chronic follow-up.