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Background: The prevalence (≈ 30%) of anaemia among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a significant concern. Additionally, less than half of households in the region have access to basic sanitation facilities, raising questions about the potential role of poor sanitation in increasing anaemia prevalence. To address this, we examined the relationship between access to basic sanitation facilities and the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age in SSA. Methods: The study analysed cross-sectional household-level Demographic and Health Survey data from selected SSA countries. A total of 100,861 pregnant and non-pregnant women aged 15 to 49 from 27 countries were analysed. Access to basic sanitation and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were classified using WHO and UNICEF standards. To examine the link between access to basic sanitation facilities and the prevalence of anaemia, a multilevel regression analysis was conducted, which adjusted for country fixed-effects to ensure that the findings were not biassed by variations in country-level factors. Results: Nearly 37% (95% CI: 36.4, 37.9) of households had access to basic sanitation facilities, and 41% (95% CI: 40.8, 42.1) of women had Hb levels that indicated anaemia. Women with access to basic sanitation had a lower risk of anaemia than those without access (AOR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93, 0.98, p < 0.01). Factors, including maternal age, education, marital status, breastfeeding, health insurance enrollment, and wealth group, were also associated with anaemia prevalence. Conclusions: Anaemia is a severe public health problem among women of reproductive age across all 27 SSA countries analysed, with nearly four in ten being affected. Access to basic sanitation facilities was associated with a reduced anaemia risk. However, only slightly over a third of households had access to such facilities. Further research is required to examine the underlying mechanisms and inform effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has seen an increase in facility-based births over the years. However, the region has the world's highest newborn mortality rate (42% in 2019). Quality care around the time of birth can avert these deaths. This study examined the newborn care interventions given to women who gave birth in health facilities in 17 countries in SSA. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted. We used data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 17 sub-Saharan African countries. We analysed a weighted sample of 226,706 women aged 15–49 years who gave birth in the five years preceding the surveys. We described the coverage of nine newborn care services, namely weighing at birth, breastfeeding initiation within 1 h after birth, skin-to-skin contact, temperature measurement, cord examination, counselling on newborn danger signs, counselling on breastfeeding, breastfeeding observation, and child health assessment before discharge. Results: Overall, 72.0% (95% CI: 71.1, 72.8) of births occurred in health facilities, ranging from 40.0% (95% CI: 38.0, 42.1) in Nigeria to 96.3% (95% CI: 95.4, 97.1) in South Africa. Weighing at birth was the most common intervention (91.4%), followed by health checks before discharge (81%). The other interventions, including those given immediately at birth (breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact), had suboptimal coverage. For instance, 66% of newborns were breastfed within 1 h after birth, and 56% had immediate skin-to-skin contact. Service coverage varied considerably by country and healthcare provider type. Conclusions: The majority of the examined services, namely early breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, cord examination, temperature measurement, counselling on newborn danger signs, breastfeeding observation, and counselling on breastfeeding, were found to have suboptimal coverage. Even though many pregnant women in SSA give birth in healthcare facilities, some newborns do not always get the care they need to be healthy and live. This is a missed chance to improve newborn health and survival around the time of birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine whether adherence to the new WHO recommendations for the frequency and timing of antenatal care (ANC) contacts was associated with receiving quality prenatal care in Cameroon. The 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey yielded a weighted sample of 5,694 women aged 15 to 49 years for analysis. We found that 8.9% of women had at least eight ANC contacts, with 47.3% of those occurring during the first trimester. Overall, 28.3% (95% CI [26.4, 30.3]) of the women received all eight ANC interventions studied. Women who made at least eight ANC contacts prior to delivery had a higher chance of receiving the full set of interventions (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI [1.00, 1.99]). Even among women who started ANC in the second trimester, those who made at least eight contacts were more likely than those who made fewer contacts to receive the full set of interventions. Furthermore, women who had their first contact later in the second (AOR = 0.85; 95% CI [0.72, 0.99]) or third trimester (AOR = 0.33; 95% CI [0.19, 0.57]) were less likely to receive the full set of interventions. According to our findings, Cameroonian women who followed the new global recommendations for prenatal care were more likely to receive quality prenatal care before giving birth. To have a positive pregnancy experience, however, more women must begin ANC in the first trimester and have at least eight contacts with health care providers before delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, intimate partner violence (IPV) epitomizes a greater proportion of the violence experienced by women, with more than a third of women (41.3%) in sub-Saharan Africa reporting IPV during their lifetime. This study examined the association between exposure to IPV and the nutritional status of women and their children in Nigeria. Methods: The study analyzed secondary data obtained from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Data on women's lifetime experience of psychological, physical, and sexual IPV, as well as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, were collected. We used regression models to determine the association between exposure to IPV and women and child nutrition indicators. A weighted sample of 4,391 women aged 15–49 years and 2,145 children 6–59 months were analyzed. Results: The lifetime experience of IPV in the study was 35.31% (95% CI: 33.35, 37.33), 30.43% (95% CI: 28.54, 32.38) experienced psychological IPV, 19.43% (95% CI: 17.79, 21.19) experienced physical IPV, and 6.03% (95% CI: 5.12, 7.09) experienced sexual IPV. After adjusting for a range of characteristics, maternal lifetime exposure to IPV was associated with underweight (ARRR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.91) and overweight/obesity (ARRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.58). We also found that, children whose mothers experienced IPV were less likely to be underweight compared to their counterparts (ARRR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.96). Conclusions: Overall, IPV against women, particularly psychological, physical, and sexual IPV, is common in Nigeria and has an association with the nutritional status of affected women and their children. According to the study, women with a lifetime experience of IPV were more likely to be overweight. On the other hand, affected women's children were less likely to be underweight. A far-reaching effort is required to curb IPV against women, particularly policies, programs, and laws are needed to protect women and children from the unfavourable effects of IPV to reduce the prevalence and impact of such violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's empowerment and autonomy have been proven to promote women's use of modern contraceptives. This study examined women's autonomy as a potential factor for modern contraceptive use among Ghanaian women in a union. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The main outcome measure was current modern contraceptive use from women's self-report. Three composite indices were used to assess women's autonomy: household decision-making, attitudes towards wife-beating, and property ownership. A total of 4772 non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years in a union were included in the analysis. The mean age was 34.2(±7.97) years, 53.6% received at least secondary education, 87.7% were employed, and 76.5% received family planning information within the last 12 months. The prevalence of modern contraceptive use was 24.8% (95% CI: 22.9–26.7). Women's autonomy was independently associated with modern contraceptive use. Compared with women with low autonomy, women with moderate (AOR= 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.55, p = 0.034) and high autonomy (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01–1.79, p = 0.044) had increased odds of modern contraceptive use. Maternal age, education, number of living children, employment, region, and exposure to family planning information were also strongly associated with modern contraceptive use. The findings from this study support the assertion that women's autonomy may be vital in promoting the use of modern contraceptives among women in a union in Ghana and other low-income and middle-income countries and should be considered in family planning programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health-seeking behaviour, stigma, and discrimination towards people affected by tuberculosis (TB) are influenced by awareness of the disease. Gender differentials in the diagnosis and treatment of TB have been reported in other settings of the world. However, little is known about the gender differences in the knowledge of TB transmission and curative possibility in Ghana. Methods: The analysed data were a weighted sample of 9,396 women aged 15–49 years and 4,388 men aged 15–59 years, obtained from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The dependent variable, correct knowledge regarding TB transmission and cure was derived from questions on the transmission of the disease and the possibility of a cure. A design-based multivariate logistic regression model in Stata 13.0/SE was used to identify the correlates of reporting correct knowledge. Results: Overall, the mean knowledge score was 6.1±0.9 (maximum = 7). Of the 13,784 respondents, 45.7% (95% CI: 44.0–47.3) reported correct knowledge regarding TB transmission and cure. Men had significantly higher knowledge than women (50.9% versus 43.2%). Misconceptions, including TB transmitted through sharing utensils (13.3%), food (6.9%), touching a person with TB (4.5%), sexual contact (4.1%), and mosquito bites (0.4%) were noted. About 30% (33% women and 25% men) of the total sample would keep the information secret when a household member is affected with TB. In the adjusted analysis, age, gender, education, region, place of residence, wealth quintile, frequency of reading newspaper/magazine, listening to the radio, and watching television were significantly associated with reporting correct knowledge. Conclusions: There was low knowledge regarding TB transmission and cure. Misconceptions regarding the transmission of TB prevailed among the participants. Gender differential in knowledge was observed. Comparatively, females were less likely to be aware of TB and report correct knowledge regarding TB transmission but were more likely to conceal information when a household member was affected by the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between a history of induced abortion and current use of contraception among reproductive-aged women in Ghana.Methods: The analysed data were a weighted sample of 6544 sexually active, non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, obtained from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Survey logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds of currently using any contraception and of using a modern method of contraception, given a history of induced abortion in the period 2009-2014.Results: A history of induced abortion between 2009 and 2014 was reported by 17.4% of women (95% CI 16.0%, 18.9%); 28.7% (95% CI 26.9%, 30.6%) were currently using a method of contraception and 23.0% (95% CI 21.4%, 24.7%) were currently using a modern method of contraception. The majority (80.1%) of current contraceptive users were using a modern method. The adjusted analysis revealed no statistically significant association between a history of induced abortion and current contraceptive behaviour. Other factors were associated with modern contraceptive use.Conclusion: Overall, the use of contraception among sexually active women in Ghana was found to be low. Our findings showed that women's experience of induced abortion was unlikely to influence their current use of modern contraception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]