Impact of Socio-Economic Factors and Health Information Sources on Place of Birth in Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data.
Jin-Won NohYoung-Mi KimNabeel AkramKi-Bong YooJooyoung CheonLena J LeeYoung Dae KwonJelle StekelenburgPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2019)
Medical facility birth with skilled birth attendance is essential to reduce maternal mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors, and varied health information sources that may influence the uptake of birth services in Pakistan. We used pooled data from Maternal-Child Health Program Indicator Survey 2013 and 2014. Study population was 9719 women. Generalized linear model with log link and a Poisson distribution was used to identify factors associated with place of birth. 3403 (35%) women gave birth at home, and 6316 (65%) women gave birth at a medical facility. After controlling for all covariates, women's age, number of children, education, wealth, and mother and child health information source (doctors and nurses/midwives) were associated with facility births. Women were significantly less likely to give birth at a medical facility if they received maternal-child health information from low-level health workers or relatives/friends. The findings suggest that interventions should target disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of women after considering rural-urban differences. Training non-health professionals may help improve facility birth. Further research is needed to examine the effect of individual information sources on facility birth, both in urban and rural areas in Pakistan.
Keyphrases
- health information
- pregnancy outcomes
- gestational age
- healthcare
- social media
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- birth weight
- pregnant women
- mental health
- coronary artery disease
- cervical cancer screening
- cardiovascular disease
- physical activity
- young adults
- type diabetes
- long term care
- drinking water
- primary care
- randomized controlled trial
- insulin resistance
- health insurance
- electronic health record
- machine learning
- skeletal muscle
- study protocol
- human health