Global Inequality in Maternal Health Care Service Utilization

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Dados Bibliográficos

ID19578121
AutoresSanni Yaya (0000-0002-4876-6043, University of Ottawa), Bishwajit Ghose (0000-0003-4461-3821, University of Ottawa, autor correspondente)
Ano2019
Volume3
Fascículo1
Páginas145-154
Data de publicação2019-04-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHealth Equity (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2473-1242 • E-ISSN: 2473-1242
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1089/heq.2018.0082
PMID31289773
OpenAlexW2941072021
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas26
Referências citadas33

Purpose: Globally, low-middle-income countries continue to account for almost all of the pregnancy-related mortalities that are largely preventable through adequate utilization of essential maternal health care services such as antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth assistance (SBA). Promoting the use of ANC and SBA services are hindered by numerous policy- and capacity-related barriers along with widespread inequality in utilization of the existing services that further exacerbates the scenario. In an attempt to better understand the geography of inequality in service utilization, we conducted this brief descriptive study by using World Health Organization (WHO) data on ANC and SBA utilization among the member states. Methods: This was a descriptive study based on open access data on ANC and SBA use between 2012 and 2015 available through the Global Health Observatory of WHO. Country-level data were collected for Asia (41 countries), Africa (35 countries), Europe (35 countries), North America (10 countries), Latin America and the Caribbean (25 countries), and Oceania (16 countries). Cross-country and continent comparisons were made using dot and bar charts. Results: The overall prevalence of ANC and SBA use were, respectively, 78.17% and 88.33%. Considerable disparities were found in terms of ANC and SBA use across the continents, especially in Asia and Africa. Globally, the poorest performing countries included Afghanistan, Somalia, and South Sudan where more than three-quarters of the women remain deprived of ANC and SBA services during the period of 2012 and 2015. The greatest inequality in ANC use was observed in Africa (9.4% in Somalia and 99.9% in Libya), whereas that of SBA use was observed in Asia (17.8% in Afghanistan vs. 100% in Bahrain). Europe was the most equal of all regions in terms of both ANC (66.8% in Albania vs. 99.7% in Belarus) and SBA (94.4% in Denmark vs. 100% in Lithuania) use. Conclusion: Although in the majority of countries more than three-quarters of the women receive ANC and SBA services, the extent of intraregional inequality remains overwhelming especially for Asia and Africa. Progress toward maternal health-related targets should be interpreted in terms of the disparities to ensure a more even and sustainable outcome at both national and global level

Business · Descriptive statistics · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Geography · Health care · Inequality · Latin Americans · Political science · Socioeconomics · Global Health Care Issues · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine