Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria
Background. Although decision-making authority is associated with maternal healthcare utilisation, the evidence on the relative importance of individual-level v. community-level decision-making participation for child survival in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. Objectives. To assess the net effects...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African Medical Association
2017-04-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Child Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/SAJCH/article/view/1148/755 |
| _version_ | 1797368685330956288 |
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| author | J O Akinyemi S A Adedini C O Odimegwu |
| author_facet | J O Akinyemi S A Adedini C O Odimegwu |
| author_sort | J O Akinyemi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Although decision-making authority is associated with maternal healthcare utilisation, the evidence on the relative importance of individual-level v. community-level decision-making participation for child survival in sub-Saharan Africa is limited.
Objectives. To assess the net effects of individual- and community-level measures of decision-making involvement (DMI) on under-5 mortality in Nigeria.
Methods. Data on a nationally representative sample of 31 482 children in the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were analysed. Mothers who reported involvement in decision-making on own healthcare, major household purchases and visits to friends and relatives were categorised as having high DMI. Community-level measures of DMI were derived by aggregating the individual measures at the cluster level. Kaplan-Meier estimates of childhood mortality rates were computed. Multilevel discrete-time hazard models were employed to investigate the net effect of individual- and community-level DMI on childhood mortality.
Results. Childhood mortality, at 59 months, was higher among children of women with low DMI (120 per 1 000) compared with those with high DMI (84 per 1 000). The full multilevel model showed that there was no difference in the risk of childhood death between children whose mothers had high v. low DMI (hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, CI 0.90 - 1.12). However, mortality risk was found to be lower among children in communities with medium DMI (HR 0.84, CI 0.74 - 0.96). Maternal age at child’s birth, education, household wealth index and preceding birth interval were significantly associated with under-five mortality.
Conclusion. Besides socioeconomic and biodemographic characteristics, community- and not individual-level DMI was associated with under-5 mortality. Women’s empowerment programmes targeting maternal and child health outcomes should also focus on communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:36:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b81713b17e674d97876bc855507ece0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1994-3032 1999-7671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:36:10Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Child Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b81713b17e674d97876bc855507ece0f2024-01-02T12:48:44ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Journal of Child Health1994-30321999-76712017-04-01111263210.7196/SAJCH.2017.v11i1.1148Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in NigeriaJ O Akinyemi0S A Adedini1C O Odimegwu2Dept of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria & Demography and Population Studies Programme University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDept of Demography and Social Statistics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria & Demography and Population Studies Programme University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDemography and Population Studies Programme University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaBackground. Although decision-making authority is associated with maternal healthcare utilisation, the evidence on the relative importance of individual-level v. community-level decision-making participation for child survival in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. Objectives. To assess the net effects of individual- and community-level measures of decision-making involvement (DMI) on under-5 mortality in Nigeria. Methods. Data on a nationally representative sample of 31 482 children in the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were analysed. Mothers who reported involvement in decision-making on own healthcare, major household purchases and visits to friends and relatives were categorised as having high DMI. Community-level measures of DMI were derived by aggregating the individual measures at the cluster level. Kaplan-Meier estimates of childhood mortality rates were computed. Multilevel discrete-time hazard models were employed to investigate the net effect of individual- and community-level DMI on childhood mortality. Results. Childhood mortality, at 59 months, was higher among children of women with low DMI (120 per 1 000) compared with those with high DMI (84 per 1 000). The full multilevel model showed that there was no difference in the risk of childhood death between children whose mothers had high v. low DMI (hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, CI 0.90 - 1.12). However, mortality risk was found to be lower among children in communities with medium DMI (HR 0.84, CI 0.74 - 0.96). Maternal age at child’s birth, education, household wealth index and preceding birth interval were significantly associated with under-five mortality. Conclusion. Besides socioeconomic and biodemographic characteristics, community- and not individual-level DMI was associated with under-5 mortality. Women’s empowerment programmes targeting maternal and child health outcomes should also focus on communities.http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/SAJCH/article/view/1148/755Childhood mortalityWomen decisionmakingCommunity-levelsocio-economic statusNigeria |
| spellingShingle | J O Akinyemi S A Adedini C O Odimegwu Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria South African Journal of Child Health Childhood mortality Women decisionmaking Community-level socio-economic status Nigeria |
| title | Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria |
| title_full | Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria |
| title_short | Individual versus community-level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in Nigeria |
| title_sort | individual versus community level measures of women decisionmaking involvement and child survival in nigeria |
| topic | Childhood mortality Women decisionmaking Community-level socio-economic status Nigeria |
| url | http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/SAJCH/article/view/1148/755 |
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