High under-five mortality rate remains one of the public health challenges, especially in sub-Saharans Africa, accounting for more than half of all global cases. Sierra Leone was and still one of the countries with the highest under-five mortality rate. Using the latest 2019 SLDHS data, we investigated factors associated with under-five mortality in Sierra Leone. A total of 9771 mothers aged 15-49 years in the country were interviewed and included in the analysis. The dependent variable is child status (dead=1; alive=0). A total of 871 (9%) children died before their fifth birthday. Maternal age of 20-24 years (AOR=0.46; CI=0.33-0.64; P<0.001) up to 40-44 years (AOR=0.43; CI=0.27-0.7; P=0.001), currently breastfeeding (AOR=0.20; CI=0.17-0.24; P<0.001), maternal media exposure and usage of reading newspapers/magazines less than once a week (AOR=0.48; CI=0.28-0.85; P=0.011) were more likely to enhance child survivability through their fifth birthday. Also, the child sex being female (AOR=0.68; CI=0.59-0.79) was more likely to survive under-five mortality compared to their male counterpart. On the other hand, mothers who listened to radio at least once a week (AOR=1.31; CI=1.08-1.59; P=0.007) watched television less than once a week (AOR=1.48; CI=1.16-1.90), had two (AOR=3.4, CI=2.78-4.16; P<0.001) or three and above birth (AOR=8.11; CI=6.07-10.83; P<0.001) in five years, had multiple birth children (AOR=1.41; CI=1.08-1.86) and very small-sized child at birth (AOR= 1.95; CI=1.41-2.70) were more likely to lose their children below the age of five years. The factors contributing to under-five mortality in Sierra Leone are critical to ensuring child survival and improving maternal health. Breastfeeding, maternal age, media exposure, child’s sex, multiple birth type, very small-sized child and the total number of births in five years were significant drivers of under-five mortality. The result affirms the need for attention to be focused on enhancing the survival rate of under-five children in Sierra Leone.
Purpose Adolescent girls and young women exhibit two of three global new HIV infections every day, yet they perceived little risk of acquiring it, thus neglecting their status. HIV Testing is fundamental to its prevention and achieving the UNAIDS three 90s. Methods We obtained data from the 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey on women to establish the HIV testing factors. We employed SPSS bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine HIV testing factors among young women aged 15–24. Results Of all 10422 young women, 69.5% have done the test, and most were rural dwellers. Ages 20–24 were more than 2.6 times (AOR = 2.69; 95% CI = 2.11–3.43) more likely to do HIV testing than those aged 15–19. Reading newspapers or magazines less than once a week and listening to the radio at least once a week increased HIV testing by 1.9 and 1.5 times, respectively. A visit to a health facility in the past 12 months influenced HIV testing by 3 (AOR = 3.06; 95% CI = 2.41–3.89) times. Contraceptives and condoms used influenced HIV testing 4.4 (AOR = 4.40; 95% CI = 3.24–5.96) and 2.1 (AOR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.09–4.30) times. Employed and wealthy young women were 1.6 times more likely to be tested. Husbands’ education positively influenced HIV testing while living in rural areas negatively influenced it. Conclusions Our findings highlight potential factors in improving HIV testing and indicate that robust strategies need to be implemented to increase HIV testing among young women in Malawi. Future research should focus on motivating factors that will enhance HIV testing uptake in Malawi young women.
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