Abstract
With the current high maternal mortality rates prevailing in Zambia, it is imperative to analyze the effect that the economic status of women has on maternal health outcomes. It is hypothesized that wealth is positively linked to better health outcomes. As a result, maternal health outcomes will improve when the economic status of women improve. Using data for women from the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to ascertain the impact of wealth as a proxy for economic status and other variables based on five independent outcomes (Number of antenatal care visits, timing of first antenatal care visit, tetanus toxoid vaccination, iron tablet/syrup uptake, and place of delivery) and a composite measure of maternal health. The results revealed that women’s wealth and region were the only significant factor associated with all the five independent indicators and the composite measure of maternal health. However, for the composite measure, literacy and age of the mother were also found to be associated with maternal health. The study therefore concluded that economic status is an important factor in improving maternal health outcomes in Zambia. As a result, policy should be aimed at providing support to women within the lowest wealth quintiles so as to enable them access maternal health services.
Highlights
Every day, women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around the world, and this is rife in developing countries
The results reveal that 53% of the women interviewed made 4 or more ANC visits of which the majority were in the richest wealth quintile (65%)
The timing of the first ANC visit is higher among the women in the higher wealth quintiles
Summary
Women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around the world, and this is rife in developing countries. The direct causes of maternal mortality in Zambia are post-partum hemorrhage (34%), sepsis (13%), obstructed labor (8%), pregnancy hypertensive disorders – eclampsia (5%), and abortion complications (4%) while indirect causes include malaria (11%), HIV (10%), and others (17%) [2] These deaths are preventable with quality maternal health care throughout pregnancy and childbirth as many studies have shown [3, 4, 5, 6]. The Ministry of Health recommends that women should give birth in a health centre or hospital where they can access skilled attendance from midwives and doctors; and after giving birth, women are advised to return to the health facility for postnatal care, preferably within the first 6 days postpartum [5] All these are aspects of maternal health and are seen as important elements in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. It has a close relationship with the right to the highest attainable standard of health [9]
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