Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.

<h4>Background</h4>Nepal has made incremental progress in improving coverage of maternal health services leading to improved health outcomes. Government and other health sector stakeholders have consistently considered dissemination of educational messages on maternal health through mass...

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Main Authors: Shreeman Sharma, Bikram Adhikari, Achyut Raj Pandey, Sulata Karki, Saugat Pratap K C, Deepak Joshi, Sushil Chandra Baral
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297418&type=printable
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author Shreeman Sharma
Bikram Adhikari
Achyut Raj Pandey
Sulata Karki
Saugat Pratap K C
Deepak Joshi
Sushil Chandra Baral
author_facet Shreeman Sharma
Bikram Adhikari
Achyut Raj Pandey
Sulata Karki
Saugat Pratap K C
Deepak Joshi
Sushil Chandra Baral
author_sort Shreeman Sharma
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Nepal has made incremental progress in improving coverage of maternal health services leading to improved health outcomes. Government and other health sector stakeholders have consistently considered dissemination of educational messages on maternal health through mass media. However, in Nepal's context, the media's influence on the uptake of maternal health services is less known. This study examines the links between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal.<h4>Method</h4>Our analysis is based on the nationally representative Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022 data. We analyzed data from 1933 women aged 15-49 who had given birth in the two years preceding the survey. Weight analysis was performed to account for complex survey design. We presented categorical variables as frequency, percentage, and corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between media exposure and maternal health service use, and the results are presented as crude (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) along with 95% CI.<h4>Results</h4>Women exposed to internet use had 1.59 times [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.16, 2.19], and those exposed to radio and television health programs had 1.73 times [AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.17, 2.56] higher odds of having four or more Antenatal Care (ANC) visits. Similarly, women exposed to mass media had 1.32 times [AOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.74] and those exposed to health programs had 1.50 times [AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.21] higher odds of having an institutional delivery. However, mass media exposure, internet use, and health program exposure were not significantly associated with increased postnatal care of mother and newborn.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Exposure to health programs and internet use are positively associated with four or more ANC visits. Exposure to mass media and health programs are positively associated with increased institutional delivery. Our findings imply that well-designed campaigns and awareness programs delivered through mass media platforms play a vital role in enhancing the uptake of maternal health services.
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spelling doaj.art-b57525e4b8804b439ce3efcbb02e50cc2024-03-15T05:31:13ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-01193e029741810.1371/journal.pone.0297418Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.Shreeman SharmaBikram AdhikariAchyut Raj PandeySulata KarkiSaugat Pratap K CDeepak JoshiSushil Chandra Baral<h4>Background</h4>Nepal has made incremental progress in improving coverage of maternal health services leading to improved health outcomes. Government and other health sector stakeholders have consistently considered dissemination of educational messages on maternal health through mass media. However, in Nepal's context, the media's influence on the uptake of maternal health services is less known. This study examines the links between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal.<h4>Method</h4>Our analysis is based on the nationally representative Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022 data. We analyzed data from 1933 women aged 15-49 who had given birth in the two years preceding the survey. Weight analysis was performed to account for complex survey design. We presented categorical variables as frequency, percentage, and corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between media exposure and maternal health service use, and the results are presented as crude (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) along with 95% CI.<h4>Results</h4>Women exposed to internet use had 1.59 times [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.16, 2.19], and those exposed to radio and television health programs had 1.73 times [AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.17, 2.56] higher odds of having four or more Antenatal Care (ANC) visits. Similarly, women exposed to mass media had 1.32 times [AOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.74] and those exposed to health programs had 1.50 times [AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.21] higher odds of having an institutional delivery. However, mass media exposure, internet use, and health program exposure were not significantly associated with increased postnatal care of mother and newborn.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Exposure to health programs and internet use are positively associated with four or more ANC visits. Exposure to mass media and health programs are positively associated with increased institutional delivery. Our findings imply that well-designed campaigns and awareness programs delivered through mass media platforms play a vital role in enhancing the uptake of maternal health services.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297418&type=printable
spellingShingle Shreeman Sharma
Bikram Adhikari
Achyut Raj Pandey
Sulata Karki
Saugat Pratap K C
Deepak Joshi
Sushil Chandra Baral
Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.
PLoS ONE
title Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.
title_full Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.
title_fullStr Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.
title_full_unstemmed Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.
title_short Association between media exposure and maternal health service use in Nepal: A further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.
title_sort association between media exposure and maternal health service use in nepal a further analysis of nepal demographic and health survey 2022
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297418&type=printable
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