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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

324050
Correlates of reproductive health indicators among women in four West African countries


Monday, November 2, 2015

Chinelo Okigbo, MBBS, MPH, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Background: Many women in sub-Saharan Africa continue to die from preventable pregnancy-related complications. According to the World Health Organization, sub-Saharan Africa is the most dangerous place for a pregnant woman to live; probably due to the region’s limited access to reproductive health services such as contraceptive and delivery services. With the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals in sight, there is a need to assess the current reproductive health status in sub-Saharan Africa to better inform policies and programs. This study examines the correlates of three reproductive health indicators among women in four West African countries.

Methods: Data used come from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo in 2010-2011. Analytical samples were restricted to women who had livebirths in the two years prior to surveys. Sample sizes ranged from 1792 in Togo to 9879 in Nigeria. The binary outcome variables were unwanted pregnancy, facility delivery, and modern contraceptive use. The exposure variables were sociodemographic and sexual characteristics. Weighted multivariate regression models were run for each country.

Results: In Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo, the unwanted pregnancy rate was 43%, 16%, 22%, and 42% respectively. Likewise, facility delivery rate was 67%, 45%, 50% 66% while modern contraceptive prevalence rate was 26%, 12% 8%, and 14% respectively. Country-level differences exist; however, education, wealth, and urban residence were consistent positive predictors of facility delivery and modern contraceptive use. Being married was associated with lower odds of reporting an unwanted pregnancy while having an unwanted pregnancy was associated with lower odds of facility delivery in Ghana and higher odds of practicing contraception in all countries. The woman’s age did not play a consistent role in her reproductive health outcome.

Conclusion: Educational interventions targeted at at-risk women may contribute to the increased use of available reproductive health services.

Learning Areas:

Provision of health care to the public
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the prevalence of unwanted pregnancy, facility delivery, and modern contraceptive use among women aged 15-49 who live in four West African countries Discuss the predictors of unwanted pregnancy, facility delivery, and modern contraceptive use among women aged 15-49 who live in four West African countries Discuss recommendations for improved maternal health in these West African countries.

Keyword(s): Accessibility, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and I have been part of several research teams on other similar projects assessing reproductive and sexual health issues among young people in Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, and Nigeria. I am also a licensed physician with the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council. My research interest includes improving access and use of reproductive health services especially among young people and health services integration.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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