Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Demography

Background:

• Maternal mortality in Cameroon is a significant concern, with the ratio increasing by nearly 17% between 2004 and 2011.
• Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) highlight the importance of consistent antenatal care and reduced service disparities for lowering maternal deaths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the dynamics of inequalities in the demand for antenatal care (ANC) services in Cameroon.
• To identify the key determinants of these inequalities between 2004 and 2011.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2004 and 2011 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for Cameroon.
• Employed concentration curve analysis, multiple correspondence analysis, and multilevel modeling.
• Focused on women of reproductive age (15-49 years) with at least one live birth in the preceding five years.

Main Results:

• Significant disparities in the demand for antenatal services were present in both 2004 and 2011.
• The magnitude of these disparities remained consistent across the two survey periods.
• Key determinants included region of residence, educational attainment (of both woman and husband), household wealth, and head of household's sex.

Conclusions:

• The underlying factors contributing to antenatal care access disparities have not fundamentally changed.
• However, the manner in which these factors influence access has been operationalized differently between 2004 and 2011.