Determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Zambia

Unmet need for family planning remains a major family planning problem in most countries around the world. It presents serious consequences for the women, their families and society at large. This study was undertaken to establish the factors that affect total unmet needs for family planning and its components in Zambia. This study used the 2013/14 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) dataset focusing on currently married women aged 15 to 49. Data analysis took the form of descriptive, binary logistic and multinomial logistic regressions. The study shows that, although there has been a substantial increase in the use of contraceptives, combined unmet need for family planning has only decreased slightly over time, and currently stand at 21%, made up of 14% limiters and 7% spacers. Various factors were identified as determinants of unmet need for spacing, limiting or total unmet need for family planning. These included age, partner’s level of education, contraceptive side effects, husband opposition to contraceptives and number of living children. To enhance utilization, policy should not be blind to the respective factors that influence combined unmet needs for spacing and limiting

Cash or Food? Which Works Better to Improve Nutrition Status and Treatment Adherence for HIV Patients Starting Antiretroviral Therapy

The overall objective of this DFID-funded study was to understand whether cash or food transfers were more effective for HIV-positive individuals starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in improving nutrition, health status and adherence to ART. HIV-positive individuals initiating ART at the St Francis Mission Hospital in Katete District, Eastern Province, were randomly allocated to two treatment groups (cash and food), and given a food basket or its cash equivalent monthly, for eight months. Both treatment groups saw significant increases (p-value <0.001) in Body Mass Index (BMI), Household Dietary Diversity Score, good adherence to ART, and in mean CD4 count, but there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in these measures. The study concluded that the provision of cash or food for eight months when clients start ART confers similar and significantly positive effects in improving clients’ nutrition and health. Providing cash is likely to be more cost-effective

Factors associated with postnatal care for newborns in Zambia: analysis of the 2013-14 Zambia demographic and health survey

Abstract Background The importance of postnatal care cannot be overemphasised. Various studies undertaken worldwide have found that PNC is critical for the survival of newborns. However, in Zambia, despite much emphasis by the government and various international Organisations on the need for PNC, coverage continues to be low. This study attempted to assess the demographic and socio-economic factors associated with newborns' receipt of PNC and the timing of first PNC in Zambia. Methods Based on data from the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), this study used bivariate, stepwise binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses to examine PNC for births at home and at health facilities. Results The results indicate that different factors influence the utilisation of PNC among home births, these include: place of delivery, mothers’ exposure or access to media and having 4+ ANC visits. On the other hand, place of residence and mothers’ access or exposure to media were found to be the determinants of PNC among facility deliveries. The results further indicate that among the home births, mothers’ media exposure or access to media, having secondary or higher education, and having 4+ ANC visits during pregnancy increased the odds of having PNC within 48 hours. Furthermore, attending the first PNC 48 hours after delivery was determined by place of residence, media exposure and 4+ ANC visits. On the other hand, among the facility births, the timing of PNC within 48 hours, was influenced by the perceived size at birth of the newborn. Conclusion The study makes the following recommendations: more attention to be given to rural based women and newborns; encourage delivery at health facilities; more emphasis on the importance of ANC visits; and need to disseminate information through various media on the importance of PNC even in rural communities

Demographic and Socio-economic determinants of maternal health insurance coverage in Zambia

Background: The importance of health insurance to individual and society at large cannot be overemphasized. It plays a critical role through enabling access to health care services and cushions the individual from catastrophic treatment costs. This study assessed the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of maternal health insurance coverage in Zambia. Methods: The study analysed the data from the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) using univariate, bivariate, binary logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic and maternal health insurance coverage in Zambia. Results: The findings indicate that a very low proportion of the women(3%) have health insurance coverage in Zambia. The study also found that&nbsp; being married, access to media, higher age category, higher education level, being employed have a positive influence on&nbsp; health insurance coverage while province of residence and type of place of residence are negatively associated with health insurance coverage among women in Zambia.&nbsp; Conclusions:The study concludes that health insurance among women in Zambia is associated with marital status, access to media, age, education level, employed status, province of residence and type of place of residence. Given these findings, the study recommends that health insurance providers should tailor their health insurance packages not only to the needs of the employed but the unemployed, the younger age groups, the informal sector and those in the rural area

Participant demographics, SARS-CoV-2 exposures and risk behaviors, and ANC test results.

Participant demographics, SARS-CoV-2 exposures and risk behaviors, and ANC test results.</p

Estimated populations exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and ratios of peak seroprevalence to cumulative incidence during last survey month.

Estimated populations exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and ratios of peak seroprevalence to cumulative incidence during last survey month.</p

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity by participant demographics and SARS-CoV-2 exposures and risk behaviors.

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity by participant demographics and SARS-CoV-2 exposures and risk behaviors.</p

Characteristics participants reporting prior COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 serostatus (n = 179).

Characteristics participants reporting prior COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 serostatus (n = 179).</p

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among vaccinated participants (n = 1685).

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among vaccinated participants (n = 1685).</p