Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time
This study assessed inequality in maternal healthcare service utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, using the Demographic and Health Surveys of 2007 and 2013–2014. We assessed the magnitude of inequality using logistical regressions, analyzed the distribution of inequality using the G...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/21/2871 |
| _version_ | 1797631890841141248 |
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| author | Dieudonne Bwirire Inez Roosen Nanne de Vries Rianne Letschert Edmond Ntabe Namegabe Rik Crutzen |
| author_facet | Dieudonne Bwirire Inez Roosen Nanne de Vries Rianne Letschert Edmond Ntabe Namegabe Rik Crutzen |
| author_sort | Dieudonne Bwirire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study assessed inequality in maternal healthcare service utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, using the Demographic and Health Surveys of 2007 and 2013–2014. We assessed the magnitude of inequality using logistical regressions, analyzed the distribution of inequality using the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve, and used the Wagstaff method to assess inequality trends. Women were less likely to have their first antenatal care visit within the first trimester and to attend more antenatal care visits when living in eastern Congo. Women in rural areas were less likely to deliver by cesarean section and to receive postnatal care. Women with middle, richer, and richest wealth indexes were more likely to complete more antenatal care visits, to deliver by cesarean section, and to receive postnatal care. Over time, inequality in utilization decreased for antenatal and postnatal care but increased for delivery by cesarean sections, suggesting that innovative strategies are needed to improve utilization among poorer, rural, and underserved women. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:30:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9f8be4948af482aab0f439eee378d65 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:30:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9f8be4948af482aab0f439eee378d652023-11-10T15:03:51ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-10-011121287110.3390/healthcare11212871Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over TimeDieudonne Bwirire0Inez Roosen1Nanne de Vries2Rianne Letschert3Edmond Ntabe Namegabe4Rik Crutzen5Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 HA Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 HA Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 HA Maastricht, The NetherlandsMaastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculté de Santé et Développement Communautaires, Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (ULPGL), Goma 368, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 HA Maastricht, The NetherlandsThis study assessed inequality in maternal healthcare service utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, using the Demographic and Health Surveys of 2007 and 2013–2014. We assessed the magnitude of inequality using logistical regressions, analyzed the distribution of inequality using the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve, and used the Wagstaff method to assess inequality trends. Women were less likely to have their first antenatal care visit within the first trimester and to attend more antenatal care visits when living in eastern Congo. Women in rural areas were less likely to deliver by cesarean section and to receive postnatal care. Women with middle, richer, and richest wealth indexes were more likely to complete more antenatal care visits, to deliver by cesarean section, and to receive postnatal care. Over time, inequality in utilization decreased for antenatal and postnatal care but increased for delivery by cesarean sections, suggesting that innovative strategies are needed to improve utilization among poorer, rural, and underserved women.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/21/2871maternal health care service utilizationtrendshealth inequalitiesinequality measurementpost-conflictDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |
| spellingShingle | Dieudonne Bwirire Inez Roosen Nanne de Vries Rianne Letschert Edmond Ntabe Namegabe Rik Crutzen Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time Healthcare maternal health care service utilization trends health inequalities inequality measurement post-conflict Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |
| title | Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time |
| title_full | Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time |
| title_fullStr | Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time |
| title_short | Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in the Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of Health Inequalities over Time |
| title_sort | maternal health care service utilization in the post conflict democratic republic of congo an analysis of health inequalities over time |
| topic | maternal health care service utilization trends health inequalities inequality measurement post-conflict Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/21/2871 |
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