Predictors of Child’s Health in Pakistan and the Moderating Role of Birth Spacing

Asif, Muhammad; Meherali, Salima; Abid, Ghulam; Khan, Mohammad Qasim; Lassi, Zohra S

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031759

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…A positive correlation exists between a mother’s age and her child’s health. Older mothers use maternal health care services more frequently and their infants are healthier than those of younger mothers [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. It is to be noted that parental education and a child’s health are positively associated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Moderating Role of Maternal Education and Employment on Child Health in Pakistan

Asif

Ali

et al. 2022

Children

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Background: Pakistan has challenges in fulfilling its universal responsibilities of providing better health facilities to everyone. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. Despite declines in mother and child death, the total mortality ratio has marginally increased. However, neonatal death has not decreased significantly. Family planning is important for controlling population growth and improving child as well as maternal health. Pakistan’s government has unceasingly tried to enhance the provision of contraceptive facilities, but still, an unmet need for family planning (UMNFP) exists in our country. Women are said to have UMNFP if they want to limit or space childbearing, but they are not using contraception methods for any reason. The study aimed to explore the effect of the UMNFP and to investigate the moderating role of a mother’s education and employment status on a child’s health. Methods: We analyzed the data of 2,244 women in this study. To investigate the study objectives, we utilized the secondary dataset of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017–18 (publicly available on the website of the National Institute of Population Studies) and applied binary logistic regression using SPSS 24. Results: Results suggest a positive effect of a woman’s age (25 to 39 years), maternal education (higher), father’s education (higher), family’s wealth status (richest), mass media exposure, and adequate birth spacing (at least for 33 months) on a child’s health. On the other hand, there is an indirect association between maternal employment, unmet need for family planning, and a child’s health. The moderating role of maternal education and employment on the relationship between household wealth status and a child’s health is positive. Conclusions: We conclude that the strong predictors of child health are UMNFP, maternal education, and employment. The link between the met need for family planning and the child’s health is positive. The moderating effect of maternal education and household wealth status on a child’s health is progressive. Similarly, the interaction effect of a mother’s employment and household wealth status on a child’s health is positive. Finally, we concluded that the link between the health of the child and household wealth status is much more diverse and positive when the mother is highly educated and currently employed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Moderating Role of Maternal Education and Employment on Child Health in Pakistan

Asif

Ali

et al. 2022

Children

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“…Further, 53 studies were specific to short birth interval and reported on either the prevalence or the predictors and 87 studies were not specific to short birth interval but considered birth interval as a covariate (Table S6 in the Online Supplementary Document). Characteristics of the studies that followed the WHO recommendation [14,17,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] for the definition and classification of short birth interval are presented in Table 1.…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Included Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the studies that measured birth-to-birth interval and classified a birth interval of <24 or ≤24 months as a short birth interval (n = 23), the prevalence of short birth interval ranged from 5.1 [69] to 64.4% [70]. In the studies that measured birth-to-birth interval and considered a birth interval of <18 months as a short birth interval (n = 7), the reported prevalence ranged from 1.3 [71] to 42.5% [72]. For studies that measured birth-to-birth interval and considered a birth interval of <33 or ≤33 months as a short birth interval (n = 10), the reported prevalence ranged from 17.4 [38] to 72.7% [73].…”

Section: Prevalence Of Short Birth Intervalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short birth interval in the Asia-Pacific region: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hassen,

Chojenta,

Khan

et al. 2024

J Glob Health

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Conclusions This review's findings highlighted significant variations in the definition, measurement, classification, and reported prevalence of short birth interval across the included studies. Future research is needed to harmonise the definition and classification of short birth interval to ensure consistency and comparability across studies and facilitate the development of targeted interventions and policies.

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“…In Pakistan, the mCPR remains low, at less than 3% for implants and IUCD [9]. Client-centered counseling has proven to be a successful approach if implemented with the intention of understanding community needs and involves a continuous learning process to adopt field lessons [23][24][25]. Our model and implementation strategy stand uniquely for the setting.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Client-centered counseling and facilitation in improving modern contraceptive uptake in urban slum of Karachi Pakistan

Fazal,

Zeeshan,

Moin

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Background Population growth in Pakistan necessitates the implementation of comprehensive family planning (FP) initiatives. The adoption of modern contraceptives, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), and permanent family planning methods in the country is challenging and has yet to reach an optimal level. These challenges are deeply rooted in the lack of informed decision-making, as well as demographic and maternal obstetric history. Interventions tailored according to women’s needs can address the challenges faced by FP programs. This paper presents the findings of the implementation of a client-centered counseling and facilitation approach in an urban slum in Karachi, Pakistan. Such an approach has the potential to inform women and help them make better decisions regarding their health. Methods In Rehri Goth, a slum located in Karachi, client-centered counseling along with facilitation at the facility was implemented to encourage the adoption of any modern contraceptive methods, with a specific emphasis on promoting the use of LARCs and permanent methods (where needed) among married women of reproductive age (MWRA). This approach was integrated into the existing Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) services established in 2014. During the routine delivery of services, data were collected on various aspects including demographic characteristics, obstetric history, motivation to adopt LARCs, and reasons for refusal. Results A total of N = 3079 eligible MWRA received client-centered counseling, and 60.3% accepted modern contraceptive methods after counseling. Furthermore, 32.5% of these MWRA adopted LARCs or permanent methods. Factors explaining reluctance to adopt any method by MWRA despite specialized counselling were: age >25 years (AOR:1.28, 95% CI:1.08–1.51), no formal education (AOR:1.58, 95% CI:1.36–1.89), having no decision making role at household (AOR:1.60, 95% CI:1.36–1.89), the desire of female or male progeny (AOR:1.86, 95% CI:1.59–2.25) and age of youngest alive ≥3 years (AOR:1.50, 95% CI:1.22–1.84). Factors explaining adoption of short-term methods instead of LARCs or permanent method were: being resident in high under-five mortality clusters (AOR:1.56, 95% CI:1.14–2.14), maternal age > 25 years (AOR:1.88, 95% CI: 1.47–2.40), no decision-making role (AOR:11.19, 95% CI:8.74–14.34), no history of abortions (AOR:2.59, 95% CI:1.79–3.75), no female child (AOR:1.85, 95% CI:1.30–2.65) and ≤ 2 children (AOR:1.74, 95% CI:1.08–2.81). Conclusion Considering the obstacles mothers face when it comes to accessing extended contraception, public health officials can devise effective strategies that empower MWRA to make well-informed and empowered choices regarding their families and reproductive health.

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Predictors of Child’s Health in Pakistan and the Moderating Role of Birth Spacing

Cited by 8 publications

References 47 publications

The Moderating Role of Maternal Education and Employment on Child Health in Pakistan

The Moderating Role of Maternal Education and Employment on Child Health in Pakistan

Short birth interval in the Asia-Pacific region: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Client-centered counseling and facilitation in improving modern contraceptive uptake in urban slum of Karachi Pakistan

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