Women's autonomy, neonatal, infant and under-five mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana
Fabian Sebastian Achana1,2, Augustine Tanle1, David Teye Doku1
1Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.
Child mortality remains a major health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Child survival is greatly influenced by household circumstances and mother's healthcare choices. Notwithstanding tremendous investment in women empowerment in Ghana, there is limited empirical evidence on whether women's autonomy translates into better child mortality outcomes. To examine the association between women's autonomy and neonatal, infant and under-five mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Data were obtained from a randomized cluster household survey among 15-49 years old women in seven districts in the Upper East Region. Data analysis was restricted to 3,243 women who reported ever having given birth. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), we constructed an autonomy index categorized into least, moderate, and high autonomy based on responses to six questions regarding household decision-making. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association of women's autonomy status and mortality outcomes. Attaining secondary education or higher was significantly associated with infant mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.39, CI = 0.16, 0.94) and under-five mortality (aOR = 0.39, CI = 0.18-0.87). Also, maternal age was significantly associated with neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality, while living in rural setting was significantly associated with lower risk of neonatal (aOR = 0.38, CI = 0.19-0.75) and under-five (aOR = 0.63, CI = 0.48-0.83) mortality. However, we found that compared to women with least autonomy, infants of those with moderate autonomy (aOR = 1.76, CI 1.07-2.89) and high autonomy (aOR = 1.75; CI = 1.04-2.93) were significantly more likely to die. In this study setting, women's autonomy was not predictive of child mortality. Interventions that aim to improve child mortality should pay attention to community and family level factors that promote increase utilization of essential early childhood interventions.
Child mortality remains a major health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Child survival is greatly influenced by household circumstances and mother's healthcare choices. Notwithstanding tremendous investment in women empowerment in Ghana, there is limited empirical evidence on whether women's autonomy translates into better child mortality outcomes. To examine the association between women's autonomy and neonatal, infant and under-five mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Data were obtained from a randomized cluster household survey among 15-49 years old women in seven districts in the Upper East Region. Data analysis was restricted to 3,243 women who reported ever having given birth. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), we constructed an autonomy index categorized into least, moderate, and high autonomy based on responses to six questions regarding household decision-making. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association of women's autonomy status and mortality outcomes. Attaining secondary education or higher was significantly associated with infant mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.39, CI = 0.16, 0.94) and under-five mortality (aOR = 0.39, CI = 0.18-0.87). Also, maternal age was significantly associated with neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality, while living in rural setting was significantly associated with lower risk of neonatal (aOR = 0.38, CI = 0.19-0.75) and under-five (aOR = 0.63, CI = 0.48-0.83) mortality. However, we found that compared to women with least autonomy, infants of those with moderate autonomy (aOR = 1.76, CI 1.07-2.89) and high autonomy (aOR = 1.75; CI = 1.04-2.93) were significantly more likely to die. In this study setting, women's autonomy was not predictive of child mortality. Interventions that aim to improve child mortality should pay attention to community and family level factors that promote increase utilization of essential early childhood interventions.
More Related Videos
14:43A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
10:55A Piglet Perinatal Asphyxia Model to Study Cardiac Injury and Hemodynamics after Cardiac Arrest, Resuscitation, and the Return of Spontaneous Circulation
Published on: January 13, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:28Infertility in Females
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
01:19Guidelines For Measuring Vital Signs
Before taking a patient's vital signs, a nurse would consider and assess the patient's comfort level and ensure appropriate equipment is available.
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
01:22Nursing Ethical Principles I
Autonomy
Autonomy underscores the significance of a patient's self-determination and freedom from external control. In healthcare, respecting...
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...