Background Utilization of modern contraceptives is still low in low-and middle-income countries, although fertility and population growth rates are high. In Senegal, modern contraceptive utilization is low, with few studies focusing on its associated factors. This study examined modern contraceptive use and its associated factors among married women in Senegal. Methods Data from the 2017 Continuous Demographic and Health Survey (C-DHS) on 11,394 married women was analysed. We examined the associations between the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of women and their partners and modern contraceptive use using multilevel logistic regression models. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Results The utilization of modern contraceptives among married women was 26.3%. Individual level factors associated with modern contraceptive use were women’s age (45–49 years-aOR = 0.44, 0.30–0.63), women’s educational level (higher-aOR = 1.88, 1.28–2.76) husband’s educational level (higher-aOR = 1.43, 1.10–1.85)), number of living children (5 or more children-aOR = 33.14, 19.20–57.22), ideal number of children (2 children-aOR = 1.95, 1.13–3.35), desire to have more children (wants no more-aOR = 2.46, 2.06–2.94), ethnicity (Diola-aOR = 0.70, 0.50–0.99), media exposure (yes-aOR = 1.44, 1.16–1.79)), wealth index (richer-aOR = 1.31, 1.03–1.67) and decision making power of women (decision making two-aOR = 1.20, 1.02–1.41). Whereas, region (Matam-aOR = 0.35, 0.23–0.53), place of residence (rural-aOR = 0.76, 0.63–0.93), community literacy level (high-aOR = 1.31, 1.01–1.71) and community knowledge level of modern contraceptives (high-aOR = 1.37, 1.13–1.67) were found as significant community level factors. Conclusions The findings indicate that both individual and community level factors are significantly associated with modern contraceptive use among married women in Senegal. Interventions should focus on enhancing literacy levels of women, their husbands and communities. Furthermore, strengthening awareness and attitude towards family planning should be given priority, especially in rural areas and regions with low resources.

Background: In African countries, including Angola, antenatal care (ANC) coverage is suboptimal and maternal mortality is still high due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. There is evidence of disparities in the uptake of ANC services, however, little is known about both the socioeconomic and geographic-based disparity in the use of ANC services in Angola. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of socioeconomic , urban-rural and subnational inequality in ANC coverage in Angola. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2015 Angola Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS) using the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. The analysis consisted of disaggregated ANC coverage rates using four equity stratifiers (economic status, education, residence, and region) and four summary measures (Difference, Population Attributable Risk, Ratio and Population Attributable Fraction). To measure statistical significance, an uncertainty interval (UI) of 95% was constructed around point estimates. Results: The study showed both absolute and relative inequalities in coverage of ANC services in Angola. More specifically, inequality favored women who were rich (

Background: Ethiopia has low measles immunization coverage and little is known about the disparities surrounding what coverage is provided. This study assessed disparities in measles immunization and its change over time using the four Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2000 and 2016. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of data using Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) conducted between 2000 and 2016. We used the World Health Organization's (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) to present the inequalities. Four measures of inequality were calculated: Difference (D), Ratio (R), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Population Attributable Risk (PAR). The results were disaggregated by wealth, education, residence, sex and sub-national regions and 95% Uncertainty Intervals (UIs) were computed for each point estimate to boost confidence of the findings. Results: Measles immunization coverage was higher among the richest and secondary and above schools' subgroup by nearly 30 to 31 percentage points based on point estimates (D = 31%; 95% CI; 19.48, 42.66) and 29.8 percentage points (D = 29.8%; 95% CI; 16.57, 43.06) as compared to the poorest and no education subgroup respectively in the 2016 survey. Still, in the 2016 survey, substantial economic status (

Introduction Evidence suggests that a better understanding of determinants of antenatal care (ANC) utilization is crucial to reducing maternal and child deaths. Little is known about the utilization of ANC services in Guinea. Objective The aim of this study was to explore factors determining utilization of skilled ANC in Guinea. Methods This study focused on a sample of 7812 ever married women. Using multivariate logistic regression, factors associated with the utilization of ANC were identified. The output of the multivariate logistic regression was presented using adjusted odds ratio and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Several factors had significant association with utilization of skilled ANC service in Guinea: having decision-making power (2.21, 95% CI: 1.63, 3.00), employment status (1.86, 95% CI: 1.39, 2.48), media exposure (1.60, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.02), maternal education (2.68, 95% CI: 1.36, 5.28), husband/partner education status (1.66, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.55), household economic status (2.19, 95% CI: 1.40, 3.44), place of residence (0.29, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.50) and ethnicity (0.40, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.69). Conclusions These findings suggest a variety of socio-demographic and economic factors as well as media exposure are associated with women’s use of ANC. Policymakers should implement appropriate measures to address the existing variations and gaps in ANC services utilization among different subgroups of women in Guinea.

Background: The healthcare system in Mozambique is striving to reduce the high maternal and child mortality rates and stay on par with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1). A key strategy to curb maternal and child mortality is to promote the use of professional childbirth services proven to be highly effective in averting maternal deaths. Currently, little is known about the use of childbirth services in Mozambique. The present study investigated the prevalence of professional healthcare delivery services and identified their sociodemographic correlates. Methods: This study used cross-sectional data on 7080 women aged 15-49 years who reported having a child during the past 5 years. The data were collected from the 2011Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variables were the choice of childbirth services that included 1) place of delivery (respondent's home versus health facility), and mode of delivery (caesarean section versus vaginal birth). Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate regression methods. Results: The prevalence of health facility and C-section delivery was 70.7 and 5.6%, respectively. There was a difference in the use of professional birthing services between urban and rural areas. Having better educational status and living in households of higher wealth quintiles showed a positive association with the use of facility delivery services among both urban and rural residents. Regarding ethnicity, women of Portugais [2.688,1.540,4.692], Cindau [1.876,1.423,2.474] and Xichangana [1.557,1.215,1.996] had relatively higher odds of using facility delivery services than others. Antenatal care (ANC) visits were a significant predictor of facility delivery services both in urban [OR = 1.655, 95%CI = 1.235,2.218] and rural [OR = 1.265, 95%CI = 1.108,1.445] areas. Among rural women, ANC visit was a significant predictor of C-section delivery [1.570,1.042,2.365]. Conclusion: More than a quarter of the women in Mozambique were not using health facility delivery services, with the prevalence being noticeably lower in the rural areas.