Ever-married Women Of Reproductive Age Research Articles

Socio-demographic and infrastructural variables influencing maternal risk concentration among ever-married women of reproductive age in rural West Bengal, India.

The risk of a woman dying as a result of pregnancy or childbirth during her lifetime is about one in six in the poorest parts of the world. The present study aims to determine prevalence of maternal risk and the influencing variables among ever-married women belonging to the reproductive age group (15-49) of Birbhum district, West Bengal. A cohort-based retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out among the sample of 229 respondents through a purposive stratified random sampling method and a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire. The ordinal logistic regression (OLR) model was taken as a tool of assessment. Before developing the proportional OLR model, we have checked the multicollinearity effect among the predictors and the first-order effect modifier was evaluated as well. We performed data analysis using SPSS version 26. The result shows that illiterate women (Odds ratios [OR]=2.81, 95% CI, 0.277-1.791), from lower standard of living (OR=1.14, 95% CI, -0.845-1.116), married before the age of 15years (OR=21.96, 95% CI, -0.55-6.73) and between the age of 15-18years (OR=24.51. 95% CI, -0.45-6.85) are more likely to be affected by the higher concentration of maternal risk. Other important predictor is the time of pregnancy registration. Considering the transport and related en-route causalities, the result portraying a clear picture where the distance and travel time becoming significant factors in determining the concentration of maternal risk. Incidences of child marriages should be restricted. Eradicating factors influencing an individual's decision to seek care would be an essential contribution in excluding the dominant maternal risk factors.

Factors associated with barriers to healthcare access among ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh: Analysis from the 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.

Globally, women experience healthcare inequalities, which may contribute to excessive mortality rates at various stages of their lives. Though Bangladesh has achieved excellent progress in providing healthcare, the country still has some critical challenges that need immediate attention. The objective of this study is to examine the association between social determinants and barriers to accessing healthcare among ever-married women aged 15-49 in Bangladesh. The study was conducted among 20,127 women aged 15-49, using data from the 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Four barriers to healthcare were considered: whether women face problems with permission, obtaining money, distance, and companionship. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was used, with a broad array of independent variables (such as age, and educational level) to identify the determinants of barriers to healthcare access. The associations were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). More than two-thirds (66.3%) of women reported having at least one perceived barrier to accessing healthcare. Women with a higher level of education (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.41-0.57), owning a mobile telephone (AOR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.73-0.84), and those in the richest wealth quintile (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.38-0.52) had lower odds of having barriers to accessing healthcare. In addition, widowed (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.26-1.84), divorced (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI:1.47-2.48), or separated (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.46-2.69) women had higher odds of having a money barrier to accessing healthcare, than married women. This study shows that individual-, household-, and community-level factors are associated with barriers to healthcare accessibility. To improve the state of women's health in Bangladesh, it is vital to consider these socio-economic factors and implement fundamental measures, such as supporting the national health policy, empowering women's socio-economic situation, and spreading the flexible way of healthcare access.

Multiple high-risk fertility behaviours and children under five mortality survivors among ever-married women of reproductive age in Nigeria

BackgroundMultiple high-risk fertility behaviours (MHRFBs), including maternal age < 18 or > 34 years old, a birth order 4+, and birth spacing < 24 months, can directly or indirectly affect survival outcomes among under-five children. There is a dearth of available information and data about these two phenomena in Nigeria. Thus, this study evaluates the prevalence of MHRFBs and examines the association between MHRFBs and under-five mortality survival (U5M) outcomes among ever-married women of reproductive age in Nigeria.MethodsThis study used the recent secondary datasets from the Nigerian Demographic Health Surveys conducted in 2018, with a total sample size of 10,304 women of reproductive age. The outcome variable was MHRFBs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between U5M and MHRFBs. Odds ratios with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsIt was found that among women who had MHRFBs, U5M was prevalent, particularly in young maternal age (< 18 years) and within short birth intervals (< 24 months). The adjusted odds ratio of the association between MHRFBs and U5M shows the experience of MHRFBs, in addition to other factors such as household wealth index, type of marriage, and sex of child, to be significant predictors for U5M. The odds were higher for U5M to occur among women who had experienced MHRFBs compared to those who have not had an experience of MHRFBs [aOR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.02–2.17 ]. Similarly, the odds of U5M occurrence among women in polygamous marriages are higher compared to those in monogamous unions [aOR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.10–1.65]. While under-five children born in the richest households (wealth quintiles) are less likely to die compared to those born in the poorest households [aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.41–1.01].ConclusionThis study concludes that women in Nigeria who engaged in MHRFBs, particularly maternal ages < 18 years and short birth intervals (< 24 months), were more likely to experience U5M. Furthermore, children born to women who received post-natal care after delivery were more likely to survive U5M, as were children born to women with educated partners. We recommend strengthening educational opportunities and creating adaptive reproductive health education programs for ever-married women of reproductive age in Nigeria.

Trends and correlates of low HIV knowledge among ever-married women of reproductive age: Evidence from cross-sectional Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 1996-2014.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden has frequently been changing over time due to epidemiological and demographic transitions. To safeguard people, particularly women of reproductive age, who can be exposed to transmitting this burden to the next generation, knowledge regarding this life-threatening virus needs to be increased. This research intends to identify the trends and associated correlates of "low" HIV knowledge among ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh from 1996 to 2014. We analyzed data derived from six surveys of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 1996, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2011, and 2014. Analyses were primarily restricted to ever-married women aged 15-49 years who had ever heard of HIV. The correlates of "low" HIV knowledge were investigated using multiple binary logistic regression models. The study found that the proportion of women with "low" HIV knowledge decreased from 72% in 1996 to 58% in 2014. In adjusted models, age at first marriage, level of education, wealth quintile, and place of residence (except in the survey year 2011) were found to be potential correlates of "low" HIV knowledge in all survey years. In the pooled analysis, we found lower odds of "low" HIV knowledge in the survey years 1999 (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.78), 2004 (AOR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.70), 2007 (AOR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.60), 2011 (AOR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.42) and 2014 (AOR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.54) compared to the survey year 1996. The proportion of "low" HIV knowledge has declined over time, although the proportion of women with "low" HIV knowledge still remains high. The prevention of early marriage, the inclusion of HIV-related topics in the curricula, reduction of disparities between urban-rural and the poorest-richest groups may help to improve the level of HIV knowledge among ever-married Bangladeshi women.

Healthcare Service Utilization and Awareness of Community Clinics among Ever-Married Women of Reproductive Age in Bangladesh

The Government of Bangladesh is establishing community clinics to provide essential healthcare services on the doorstep of the citizens of the country. In Bangladesh, women are the most vulnerable group in case of morbidity and mortality, especially in rural areas. They are unaware and underutilize the health care services provided by community clinics. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of socio-economic and demographic variables with awareness of community clinics and also with the usage of services for health care from these clinics among the ever-wedded women of childbearing age. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2017-18 data were used in this research study. The study findings reveal that 56% of women who were ever-married were aware of healthcare services provided by community clinics situated in their residential area and 15.6% of women utilized such community clinic services in the 90 days preceding the survey. In this study, by applying bivariate chi-squared (χ2) test, some demographic, social, and economic variables are identified closely associated with consciousness about community clinics and usage of healthcare services from such clinics among women who were aged 15-49 and ever-married. The variables are marital status, educational qualification, working status, type of place of residence, administrative division, the economic condition of the household, ownership of mobile, number of members in the family, and husband’s educational qualification. The government and policymakers should take necessary initiatives to increase the public awareness and utilization of community clinic services. Community clinics should introduce special healthcare facilities for specific groups such as pregnant women or adolescents to increase the utilization of community clinic services.

The Relationship between Maternal Participation in Household Decision-Making and Birth Attendant Selection: Evidence from Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The decreasing maternal mortality rate (MMR) is an important indicator in achieving health development. The Ministry of Health has mandated delivery assistance by competent health personnel to achieve the MMR targets set out in the UN sustainable development goals. AIM: This study aims to determine the relationship between maternal participation in household decision-making and the selection of birth attendant in Indonesia. METHODS: The study uses secondary data from the 2017 Indonesia demographic and health survey, as part of a cross-sectional and large-scale national survey. The study involved ever-married women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and had given birth in the last 5 years prior to the survey (n = 14,193). RESULTS: Of all birth attendants, 4,630 (32.6%) were non-health workers and 9,563 (67.4%) were health workers. Midwives account for the largest proportion of the health workers (61.8%). Decisions in healthcare, household expenses, visits to family/relatives’ decisions are significantly associated with birth attendant selection. However, husband’s income use decision had no significant relationship with birth attendant selection. The final multivariate model found that grand multipara mothers had a 1.9 times higher risk of choosing non-health birth attendants than primipara mothers (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.60–2.25). CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrated the importance of improving health education for men and women as well as women’s decision-making autonomy. Health workers (especially midwives) should improve knowledge and communication between couples in choosing skilled birth attendants, especially for mothers with grand multiparity.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Women's Undernutrition: Evidence from Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018.

The objective of this study was to explore the socioeconomic inequalities in undernutrition among ever-married women of reproductive age. We used nationally representative cross-sectional data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–2018. Undernutrition was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 kg/m2. The concentration index (C) was used to measure the socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of women’s undernutrition. A multiple binary logistic regression model was carried out to find out the factors associated with women’s undernutrition. The prevalence of undernutrition among women of 15–49 years was 12%. Among them, 8.5% of women were from urban and 12.7% of women were from rural areas. The prevalence of undernutrition was highest (21.9%) among women who belonged to the adolescent age group (15–19 years). The C showed that undernutrition was more prevalent among the socioeconomically worst-off (poorest) group in Bangladesh (C = −0.26). An adjusted multiple logistic regression model indicated that women less than 19 years of age had higher odds (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 2.81; 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.23, 3.55) of being undernourished. Women from the poorest wealth quintile (AOR: 3.93, 95% CI: 3.21, 4.81) had higher odds of being undernourished. On the other hand, women who had completed secondary or higher education (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.61), married women who were living with their husbands (AOR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.86), and women exposed to mass media (AOR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.79, 0.97) were less likely to be undernourished. Intervention strategies should be developed targeting the poorest to combat undernutrition in women of reproductive age in Bangladesh.

Women’s Status and its Association With Home Delivery: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

IntroductionHome delivery is a predominant driver of maternal and neonatal deaths in developing countries. Despite the efforts of international organizations in Pakistan, home childbirth is common in the remote and rural areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. We studied women’s position within the household (socio-economic dependence, maternal health decision making, and social mobility) and its association with the preference for home delivery.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional household survey among 503 ever-married women of reproductive age (15–49 years), who have had childbirth in the last twelve months or were pregnant (more than 6 months) at the time of the interview. A two-stage cluster sampling technique has been used for recruitment. Descriptive and bivariate analyses have been conducted. A binary logistic regression model was calculated to present odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for factor associated with home delivery.ResultsAn inferior status of women, restrictions in mobility and limited power in decision making related to household purchases, maternal health care, and outdoor socializing are contributing factors of home delivery. Furthermore, women having faced intimate partner violence were much more likely to deliver at home (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.83.3.86, p < 0.001).DiscussionWe concluded that women are in a position with minimal authority in decision making to access and deliver the baby in any health facility. We recommend that the government should ensure the availability of health facilities in nearby locations to increase institutional deliveries in the study area.

Determinants of overall knowledge and health behaviours in relation to hepatitis B and C among ever-married women in Pakistan: evidence based on Demographic and Health Survey 2017\u201318

BackgroundIn 2019, around 5 million and 10 million people were affected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) respectively in Pakistan. On World Hepatitis Day 2019, Pakistan’s Government announced the Prime Minister’s Plan to eliminate HBV and HCV from the country by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, adequate knowledge about HBV and HCV regarding mode of transmission, symptoms of the disease, and awareness about available treatments and vaccines is imperative. The present study aims to investigate the determinants related to overall knowledge about and behaviour in relation to HBV and HCV amongst married women in Pakistan.MethodsSecondary data analysis was carried out using the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017–18. A series of questions regarding women’s knowledge about how to avoid HBV and HCV and their health behaviour in relation to HBV and HCV were posed to 12,364 ever-married women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Bivariate and multivariable logistic and linear regression was applied to examine the effects of sociodemographic characteristics and covariates on women’s overall knowledge and health behaviour regarding HBV and HCV.ResultsThe findings highlight that the majority of women (88.3%) have heard of HBV and HCV. Nonetheless, only 34.8% had comprehensive knowledge about how to avoid HBV and HCV. Few women (11.3%) had been tested for HBV or HCV during the year preceding the survey. Furthermore, the results indicate that women living in urban areas, being older, and having more than 10 years of schooling, reported better knowledge and health behaviours regarding HBV and HCV.ConclusionThis study provides evidence that women’s sociodemographic characteristics create differences in their overall knowledge about and attitudes towards HBV and HCV. This research emphasized that there is a need to create awareness about the causes and prevention of HBV and HCV in order to achieve the goal of eliminating these diseases in Pakistan by 2030.

Continuity of maternal healthcare services utilisation in Indonesia: analysis of determinants from the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey

ObjectiveWHO recommends that every pregnant woman and newborn receive quality care throughout the pregnancy, delivery and postnatal periods. However, Maternal Mortality Ratio in Indonesia for 2015 reached 305 per 100...

Prevalence and determinants of contraception use in Pakistan: trend analysis from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) dataset from 1990 to 2018

Background: In developing countries, pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death among women. In this context, family planning and access to contraceptives are crucial for reducing pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we aimed to look into the trends of contraception and determinants of contraceptive use in Pakistan.Methods: This study used data for women of reproductive age from four Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys datasets. Contraception was the outcome variable, whereas, women’s and partner’s education, occupation, wealth quintile, region, place of residence, and exposure to family planning messages were the explanatory variables. Pooled prevalence was estimated using SUMARI and regression analysis was undertaken using SPSS to produce an adjusted prevalence ratio with 95% confidence intervals.Results: Data of 40,259 ever-married women of reproductive age (EMWRA) was analysed. Of the total EMWRA, 30% were using contraception. Of these, 26% were using traditional methods and 74% were using modern methods. The most common method of contraception was condoms (30.5%). The pooled prevalence of contraception used was 29.5% (95% CI 29.1 to 30.0). Through multivariate analysis, women's age, place of residence, region, wealth index, women’s education, their working status, and exposure to family planning messages were found to be significant determinants of contraception usage.Conclusions: There is a noticeable gap regarding awareness and uptake of contraception leading to low contraceptive use among women in Pakistan. In the light of our results, it is important to highlight the importance of girl’s education for building awareness and empowerment.

Prevalence and determinants of contraception use in Pakistan: trend analysis from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) dataset from 1990 to 2018.

Background: In developing countries, pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death among women. In this context, family planning and access to contraceptives are crucial for reducing pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we aimed to look into the trends of contraception and determinants of contraceptive use in Pakistan. Methods: This study used data for women of reproductive age from four Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys datasets. Contraception was the outcome variable, whereas, women's and partner's education, occupation, wealth quintile, region, place of residence, and exposure to family planning messages were the explanatory variables. Pooled prevalence was estimated using SUMARI and regression analysis was undertaken using SPSS to produce an adjusted prevalence ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Data of 40,259 ever-married women of reproductive age (EMWRA) was analysed. Of the total EMWRA, 30% were using contraception. Of these, 26% were using traditional methods and 74% were using modern methods. The most common method of contraception was condoms (30.5%). The pooled prevalence of contraception used was 29.5% (95% CI 29.1 to 30.0). Through multivariate analysis, women's age, place of residence, region, wealth index, women's education, their working status, and exposure to family planning messages were found to be significant determinants of contraception usage. Conclusions: There is a noticeable gap regarding awareness and uptake of contraception leading to low contraceptive use among women in Pakistan. In the light of our results, it is important to highlight the importance of girl's education for building awareness and empowerment.

Empowerment and IPV in Married Women of Reproductive Age: Evidence from Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-2018.

The study was an attempt to identify demographic, household, and women empowerment factors that predicted emotional, physical, and sexual violence in ever-married women of reproductive age (15-49 years, n = 3,965) in Pakistan by performing secondary analysis on Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 2017-2018. The analysis was done using SPSS (v.22) and binary and multivariate logistic regression techniques were performed for analyses. The analysis found that 30.2% of women experienced emotional, 24.1% reported less severe physical, 6.5% experienced severe physical, and 4.3% experienced sexual violence, respectively. The multivariate analysis found that husband's age, education, wealth, and alcohol consumption were significant predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Additionally, womens' age, education, and number of children also significantly predicted IPV. With respect to empowerment variables, ownership of house was a significant predictor of less severe physical violence, ownership of property significantly predicted emotional violence, and autonomy in household purchase decisions was significantly related to severe physical violence. The control on husband's income as a measure of empowerment significantly predicted all four types of IPV. Belief in patriarchy also turned out to be an important factor in determining emotional and less severe physical violence. The study concludes that women empowerment in household context can prevent less serious forms of violence but to hinder serious forms of violence, interventions at family and community level will be required.

Consanguineous marriage and its relevance to divorce, polygyny and survival of marriage: evidence from a population-based analysis in Jordan

Background Consanguinity has been extensively studied in the context of its negative health outcomes for offspring and socio-demographic factors, but little evidence-based research has been done on its potential social benefits. Aim To examine the association between consanguineous marriage and the risk of divorce or separation, polygyny, and survival of marriage in Jordan. Subjects and methods Data were obtained from the 2018 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey, covering a nationally representative sample of ever-married women of reproductive age. Descriptive statistics, multiple logistic regression, and survival analysis techniques were used for data analysis. Results The prevalence of consanguineous marriage was found to be 27.5% in Jordan in 2018, while the prevalences of polygyny and divorced/separated rates were 4.4% and 4.7%, respectively. Both consanguineous and polygyny rates showed declining trends, but divorce/separation rate showed an increasing trend. Compared to non-consanguineous marriages, the risk of divorce/separation and polygyny were found to be lower among women with consanguineous marriage, while the survival of marriages was found to be higher for consanguineous marriages than for non-consanguineous marriages. Conclusions Findings revealed that consanguinity has some social benefits as it plays protective roles against divorce or separation, polygyny and enhances the survival of marriages.

Bayesian spatial analysis of socio-demographic factors influencing pregnancy termination and its residual geographic variation among ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh

BackgroundUnsafe pregnancy termination is a major public health concern among reproductive-aged women in many developing countries. This study evaluated the socio-demographic characteristics, as well as residual spatial correlation in pregnancy termination among Bangladeshi women.MethodsSecondary data was obtained from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey for the survey year 2014. Data included 17,863 samples of ever-married women between the ages of 15-49 years, which is a national representative sample in Bangladesh. Bayesian spatial logistic regression was used to assess the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and pregnancy termination. We flexibly modeled the non-linear effects of the continuous covariates while accounting for residual spatial correlation at the district level.ResultsOur findings revealed that about 19% of the respondents in Bangladesh reported ever had a pregnancy terminated. The risk of pregnancy termination was higher among women who had been working, had a higher wealth index, were in a conjugal relationship, had no children, were older and started their cohabitation earlier. Residual spatial patterns revealed the areas at a higher risk of pregnancy termination, including Panchagarh, Habiganj, and Sylhet after adjusting for covariates.ConclusionsPrevalence of pregnancy termination remains considerably high in Bangladesh. The study revealed significant associations of women’s age at survey time, age at first cohabitation, occupational status, socio-economic status, marital status and the total number of children ever born with reporting having a history of terminated pregnancy among Bangladeshi ever-married women. The identified socio-demographic characteristics and districts at an increased likelihood of pregnancy termination can inform localized intervention and prevention strategies to improve the reproductive healthcare of women in Bangladesh.

Survival analysis and prognostic factors of time to first domestic violence after marriage among Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique women

ObjectivesHow soon an ever-married woman falls a victim of domestic violence after marriage is not documented in Africa. This study sought to assess the timing of first domestic violence (FDV) against women after marriage and determined the factors associated with the timings in Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique. Study designThis is a cross-sectional study. MethodsData of 29,793 ever-married women of reproductive age consisting of 21,564, 4237 and 3992 from Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Nigeria (2013), Kenya (2014) and Mozambique (2011), respectively, were used. The timing of FDV was the time interval between marriage date and date of the FDV for those with reported violence but censored as the time interval between marriage date and the survey date for those without domestic violence. Survival analysis techniques were used to assess the timing and the factors influencing the timing at (P = 0.05). ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of domestic violence among the ever-married women in Nigeria, Kenya and Mozambique was 15.4%, 39.0% and 31.0%, respectively. The overall median time to FDV was 3 years. The risk of FDV was twice higher in Kenya (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.934; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.729–2.132) and 15% higher in Mozambique (aHR = 1.156; 95% CI: 1.156–1.223) than in Nigeria. The hazard of domestic violence was significantly higher among separated/divorced women across the three countries (aHR = 1.326; 95% CI: 1.237–1.801). Other factors associated with the timing of FDV against women were respondents' education, age at first marriage, region and location of residence, religion, ethnicity, employment status, wealth quintile, spouse consuming alcohol and husbands' educational attainment. ConclusionsDomestic violence against married women by their intimate partners is prevalent across Mozambique, Nigeria and Kenya, with earlier occurrences in Kenya and Mozambique. Age at first marriage, education factors, religion, ethnicity and region of residence in each country affected the timing of the first incidence of domestic violence.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV/AIDS knowledge among ever married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh: an update from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014

Background: Knowledge about HIV/AIDS is crucial to prevent the HIV/AIDS disease burden, especially for women of reproductive age to protect their offspring from mother-to-child transmissions of HIV/AIDS. This study aims to explore the prevalence and correlates of HIV/AIDS knowledge among ever-married reproductive women in Bangladesh. Methods: Data were extracted from a nationally representative two-stage stratified Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) conducted in 2014. Knowledge level of women regarding HIV/AIDS was constructed by scoring 11 dichotomous knowledge questions and classified into low, moderate and high level by using the principal component analysis. Multiple multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to identify the correlates. Results: Among 17,863 ever-married women of reproductive age, 70% had ever heard about HIV/AIDS, and 34.2% had low, 33.0% had moderate and 32.8% had high level of HIV/AIDS knowledge. Women with age at first marriage between 15-19 years and ≥20 years of age were respectively 1.18 and 1.85 times more likely to have high HIV/AIDS knowledge than women who got married before 15 years of age. Compared to illiterate women, women who completed primary and secondary or higher education had higher odds of having both moderate and high HIV/AIDS knowledge. Women exposed to mass-media were 2.39 and 2.91 times more likely to have moderate and high HIV/AIDS knowledge respectively than women without mass-media exposure. Conclusions: Findings of this study stress the importance of building awareness regarding the transmissions and consequences of HIV/AIDS among women of reproductive age in order to avert the risk of further spread. Through promotion of female education, incorporation of HIV/AIDS teaching in the national curriculum and vigorous mass media campaigns, women’s awareness about HIV/AIDS can be enhanced effectively. Also, strict enforcement of policy to prevent early marriage will aid in better control of HIV in Bangladesh.

Sociodemographic factors and current contraceptive use among ever-married women of reproductive age: Analysis of the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey data

Background and purpose: Globally, the number of new contraceptive users in mid-2017 was only around half of the target. According to the results of the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS), the use of all methods of contraception in Indonesia has increased but is still lower than the target. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the use of contraception in Indonesia.&#x0D; Methods: This study uses secondary data from the 2017 IDHS that was carried out in 34 provinces in Indonesia. The total sample was 35,681 of 49,627 women aged 15-49 years. The dependent variable was current contraceptive use. The independent variables consisted of socio-demographic and socio-economic factors, knowledge, discussion with husband, and access to health services. Data analysis was performed through a binary logistic regression test to obtain the adjusted odd ratio of each factor.&#x0D; Results: The proportion of current contraceptive use was found to be 63.6% (95%CI: 63.2-64.0%). Factors related to current contraceptive use were family planning information from health workers (AOR=1.67; 95%CI: 1.59-1.77), maternal age of 35-44 years (AOR=1.54; 95%CI: 1.42-1.66), maternal age of 25-34 years (AOR=1.37; 95%CI: 1.27-1.48), maternal age ≥45 years (AOR=0.75; 95%CI: 0.68-0.82), living in the Java-Bali region (AOR=1.28; 95%CI: 1.22-1.35), living in rural areas (AOR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12), having more than two living children (AOR=1.52; 95%CI: 1.44-1.60), level of education not attending school until not graduating from high school (AOR=1,46; 95%CI: 1.35-1.59), high school graduation level (AOR=1.25; 95%CI: 1.16-1.35), not working status (AOR=1.08; 95%CI: 1.03-1.13), medium wealth index (AOR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.00-1.14) and good knowledge (AOR=1.17; 95%CI: 1.11-1.23).&#x0D; Conclusion: The proportion of current contraceptive use in couples of childbearing age in Indonesia has not reached the government target. Factors that were more likely to increase current contraceptive use were family planning information from health workers, age, region, number of living children, mothers’ education, and knowledge. The family planning program in Indonesia should therefore consider those factors to increase the current contraceptive use.

Sociodemographic factors and current contraceptive use among ever-married women of reproductive age: Analysis of the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey data

Background and purpose: Globally, the number of new contraceptive users in mid-2017 was only around half of the target. According to the results of the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS), the use of all methods of contraception in Indonesia has increased but is still lower than the target. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the use of contraception in Indonesia.Methods: This study uses secondary data from the 2017 IDHS that was carried out in 34 provinces in Indonesia. The total sample was 35,681 of 49,627 women aged 15-49 years. The dependent variable was current contraceptive use. The independent variables consisted of socio-demographic and socio-economic factors, knowledge, discussion with husband, and access to health services. Data analysis was performed through a binary logistic regression test to obtain the adjusted odd ratio of each factor. Results: The proportion of current contraceptive use was found to be 63.6% (95%CI: 63.2-64.0%). Factors related to current contraceptive use were family planning information from health workers (AOR=1.67; 95%CI: 1.59-1.77), maternal age of 35-44 years (AOR=1.54; 95%CI: 1.42-1.66), maternal age of 25-34 years (AOR=1.37; 95%CI: 1.27-1.48), maternal age ≥45 years (AOR=0.75; 95%CI: 0.68-0.82), living in the Java-Bali region (AOR=1.28; 95%CI: 1.22-1.35), living in rural areas (AOR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12), having more than two living children (AOR=1.52; 95%CI: 1.44-1.60), level of education not attending school until not graduating from high school (AOR=1,46; 95%CI: 1.35-1.59), high school graduation level (AOR=1.25; 95%CI: 1.16-1.35), not working status (AOR=1.08; 95%CI: 1.03-1.13), medium wealth index (AOR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.00-1.14) and good knowledge (AOR=1.17; 95%CI: 1.11-1.23).Conclusion: The proportion of current contraceptive use in couples of childbearing age in Indonesia has not reached the government target. Factors that were more likely to increase current contraceptive use were family planning information from health workers, age, place of residence, region, number of living children, and mothers’ education. The family planning program in Indonesia should therefore consider those factors to increase the current contraceptive use.

Prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among ever-married women in Jordan.

Anaemia is associated with poor health outcomes and is considered a serious public health problem particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Specific subgroups are at higher risk of anaemia, such as women of reproductive age. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among ever-married women in Jordan using a secondary analysis of the Jordan Population and Family Health Survey. This is a secondary analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of ever-married women aged 15-49 years that were tested for haemoglobin levels in the 2012 JPFHS. Anaemia was categorized according to the WHO criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate risk factors associated with anaemia. The prevalence of any anaemia was 37.3%; specifically, 20% had mild anaemia (haemoglobin 11.0-11.9 g/dl), 16.3% had moderate anaemia (hemoglobin 8.0-10.9 g/dl) and 1% had severe anaemia (haemoglobin < 8.0 g/dl). Factors that were associated with anaemia in the multivariate regression included urban women (P = 0.01), living in the north (P = 0.014) or south regions (P = 0.013) of Jordan, having multiple children (P < 0.001), being pregnant (P < 0.01), and using IUD as a contraceptive method (P < 0.001). A high prevalence of anaemia among ever-married women of reproductive age in Jordan was noticed. The results emphasize the importance of urgent public health interventions to prevent anaemia in Jordan, particularly among high-risk subgroups.