Correlates of Residents Socio-Economic Characteristics and Frequency of Visits to Healthcare Facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria

This paper examines the relationship that exists between the socio-economic characteristics of residents and their frequency of visits to healthcare facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria. The data utilized in the paper draws on systematic sampling of 1,181 health consumers in the three senatorial districts of the State. Findings revealed that socio-economic characteristics play a significant role in determining the frequency of visits to healthcare facilities, this is substantiated with the chi-square test result that revealed a significant relationship between marital status and frequency of visits to healthcare facilities with  = 39.387 and significant at p = 0.000 level, also a significant relationship exists between education and frequency of visits ( 15蠂虏">  = 31.354 and significant at p = 0.012 levels), the test result equally revealed a significant difference between income of households and the frequency of visits to healthcare facilities with  = 30.936 and significant at p = 0.000 levels. The paper therefore concluded that efforts should be put in place in order to improve or enhance the socio-economic characteristics of residents which will invariably improve their access or frequency of visits to healthcare facilities. Keywords: Frequency of visits, healthcare, Ondo State, socio-economi

Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe