The DHS Program

Levels and Trends in Maternal and Child Health Disparities by Wealth and Region in Eleven Countries with DHS Surveys (English) 

Document Type

Comparative Reports

Publication Topic(s)

Child Health and Development, Family Planning, Maternal Health, Nutrition, Wealth/Socioeconomics

Country(s)

Congo Democratic Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Haiti

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Assaf, Shireen, and Thomas Pullum. 2016. Levels and Trends in Maternal and Child Health Disparities by Wealth and Region in Eleven Countries with DHS Surveys. DHS Comparative Reports No. 42. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF International.

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Publication Date

August 2016

Publication ID

CR42

Abstract:

This report describes recent levels and trends in 11 maternal and child health (MCH) indicators in 11 countries, using the two most recent DHS surveys from each country. The emphasis is on within-country disparities by wealth quintile and region and how they may have changed. Six measures and a map are used to describe each indicator in each country. One measure is the overall prevalence of the indicator; four measures describe disparities by wealth; and one measure quantifies regional disparities. Maps show the prevalence of the indicator by region in the most recent survey. Wealth and regional inequality scores summarize the measures in the most recent survey. Nigeria, Mali, Haiti, and Pakistan have the highest wealth inequality scores for almost all indicators. Nigeria, Mali, and Pakistan also have high regional inequality scores. Inequality has declined in some countries for some certain indicators, but several other countries have consistently high levels of inequality and little improvement. According to the concentration index for wealth, Mali had significant deterioration for 7 indicators, followed Nigeria, with deterioration for 4 indicators. Most of the significant improvements were in Ghana, Indonesia, and Liberia, where 6 indicators improved significantly. Despite some limitations, this report may help in planning and focusing interventions to improve both the level and equality of maternal and child health. For each country, health care interventions could be prioritized by specific indicators, wealth quintiles, or regions identified as having the most need.