Individual versus community-level measures of women decision-making involvement and child survival in Nigeria
S. Afr. j. child health (Online)
; 11(1): 26-32, 2017.
Article
in English
| AIM (Africa)
| ID: biblio-1270300
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background. Although decision-making authority is associated with maternal healthcare utilisation, the evidence on the relative importance of individual-level v. community-level decision-making participation for child survival in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. Objectives. To assess the net effects of individual- and community-level measures of decision-making involvement (DMI) on under-5 mortality in Nigeria. Methods. Data on a nationally representative sample of 31 482 children in the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were analysed. Mothers who reported involvement in decision-making on own healthcare, major household purchases and visits to friends and relatives were categorised as having high DMI. Community-level measures of DMI were derived by aggregating the individual measures at the cluster level. Kaplan-Meier estimates of childhood mortality rates were computed. Multilevel discrete-time hazard models were employed to investigate the net effect of individual- and community-level DMI on childhood mortality. Results. Childhood mortality, at 59 months, was higher among children of women with low DMI (120 per 1 000) compared with those with high DMI (84 per 1 000). The full multilevel model showed that there was no difference in the risk of childhood death between children whose mothers had high v. low DMI (hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, CI 0.90 - 1.12). However, mortality risk was found to be lower among children in communities with medium DMI (HR 0.84, CI 0.74 - 0.96). Maternal age at child's birth, education, household wealth index and preceding birth interval were significantly associated with under-five mortality. Conclusion. Besides socioeconomic and biodemographic characteristics, community- and not individual-level DMI was associated with under-5 mortality. Women's empowerment programmes targeting maternal and child health outcomes should also focus on communities
Full text:
Available
Health context:
Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas
Health problem:
Goal 11: Inequalities and inequities in health
Database:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Socioeconomic Factors
/
Community Health Services
/
Decision Making
/
Delivery of Health Care
/
Child Mortality
/
Nigeria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Aspects:
Social determinants of health
/
Equity and inequality
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. j. child health (Online)
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article