Exploring health insurance and knowledge of the ovulatory cycle: evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys of 29 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Unplanned pregnancy continues to be a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Understanding the ovulatory cycle can help women avoid unplanned pregnancy. Though a wide range of factors for ovulatory cycle knowledge in SSA countries has not been well assessed, the influence of health insurance on ovulatory cycle knowledge is largely unknown.

HIV testing among women of reproductive age in 28 sub-Saharan African countries: a multilevel modelling.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains one of the most significant public health challenges globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although HIV testing is a vital step for both prevention and treatment, its uptake is still low in SSA. We therefore examined HIV testing in SSA and its individual/household and community factors among women of reproductive age groups (15-49 y).

Early Sexual Debut and Its Associated Factors Among Young Women Aged 15-24 in Mali: A Multilevel Analysis.

Early sexual debut is associated with increased risk of several sexual and reproductive health problems, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Hence, determining factors that promote early sexual initiation is significant to guide policy and inform interventions aimed to promote the health of young people through to adulthood. This study examined the prevalence of early sexual debut and its associated factors among young women in Mali.

Association between women's household decision-making autonomy and health insurance enrollment in sub-saharan Africa.

Background: Out of pocket payment for healthcare remains a barrier to accessing health care services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Women's decision-making autonomy may be a strategy for healthcare access and utilization in the region. There is a dearth of evidence on the link between women's decision-making autonomy and health insurance enrollment.

Anemia and its predictors among chronic kidney disease patients in Sub-Saharan African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Anemia is a serious complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a significant adverse outcome on the burden and progression of the disease. Hence, the study intended to assess the pooled prevalence of anemia and its predictors among CKD patients in Sub-Saharan African nations.

Methods: To identify the relevant studies systematic searches were carried out in Medline, EMBASE, HINARI, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library.

Women's household decision-making power and contraceptive use in Mali.

Background: Utilization of contraceptives remains low in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa despite evidence of its benefits. Several factors are associated with contraceptive use. However, little is known about the association between women's decision-making capacity and the utilization of contraceptives in Mali.

Individual and community-level determinants of knowledge of ovulatory cycle among women of reproductive age in 29 African countries: a multilevel analysis.

Background: Knowledge of the ovulatory cycle (KOC) can help reduce the chances of unwanted pregnancies and may improve a woman's reproductive health. However, little is known about the factors associated with knowledge of the ovulatory cycle across Africa. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the individual/household and community level determinants of KOC among women of childbearing age in 29 African countries.

Assessment of risky sexual behaviours and associated factors among adolescents in Shewa Robit Town, Northeast, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: adolescents are at high risk of engaging in risky sexual behaviours that could predispose them to several health problems. Cognizant of these facts, studies addressing the root causes for risky sexual behaviours in risk areas like Shewa Robit are mandatory. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess risky sexual behaviours and its determinants in Shewa Robit town, Northeast Ethiopia.

Understanding the factors associated with married women's attitudes towards wife-beating in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Intimate partner violence remains a major public health problem, especially in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the factors associated with married women's attitudes towards wife-beating in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We used Demographic and Health Survey data of 28 sub-Saharan African countries that had surveys conducted between 2010 and 2019.

Trends in inequality in the coverage of vitamin A supplementation among children 6-59 months of age over two decades in Ethiopia: Evidence from demographic and health surveys.

Objectives: There is a dearth of evidence on inequalities in vitamin A supplementation in Ethiopia. The goal of this study was to assess the magnitude and overtime changes of inequalities in vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6-59 months in Ethiopia.

Methods: We extracted data from four waves of the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016).

High-risk fertility behaviour and childhood anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: This study sought to examine the association between high-risk fertility behaviour and childhood anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa .

Design: An analytical study was conducted using cross-sectional data from mothers with children under age 5 (n=64 512) from 28 sub-Saharan African countries. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted to examine the association between high-risk fertility behaviour and childhood anaemia.

Inequalities in childhood stunting: evidence from Sudan multiple indicator cluster surveys (2010-2014).

Background: Leaving no one behind has been an important marker of the Sustainable Development Goals. Closing the gap in malnutrition between children of different backgrounds aligns well with the tenet of this international agenda. To this end, high-quality evidence of the magnitude and trends of socioeconomic and geographic related existing inequalities in the childhood stunting among Sudanese children emanate from this study help for policy maker and planners to design and implement effective interventions to narrow down inequality.

Women's decision-making power and knowledge of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears the highest burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the world. Even though the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programmme is one of the strategies to control the HIV pandemic, the uptake in SSA countries is low. Women's decision-making power has a positive influence on health seeking behavior and uptake of several maternal health services.

Women's decision-making capacity and its association with comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS in 23 sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Globally, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remains a public health problem with a higher burden in sub-Saharan African countries. Though the coverage is low in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), comprehensive knowledge about HIV is vital for preventing and controlling the transmission of the virus. Women's decision-making power is significantly linked with the knowledge and use of healthcare services.

Health insurance coverage and timely antenatal care attendance in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: Out-of-pocket payments for healthcare remain a significant health financing challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), preventing women from using maternal health services. There is a paucity of empirical literature on the influence of health insurance coverage on the timeliness of antenatal care (ANC) attendance in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we examined the association between health insurance coverage and timely ANC attendance among pregnant women in SSA.

Time trends in socio-economic and geographic-based inequalities in childhood wasting in Guinea over 2 decades: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Today, an estimated 7.3% (50 million) of all children <5 y of age suffer from wasting, with more burden in African countries including Guinea. Investigating inequalities in childhood wasting is essential for designing efficient programs and interventions, but no related evidence exists in Guinea.

Disparities in use of skilled birth attendants and neonatal mortality rate in Guinea over two decades.

Background: Maternal mortality remains high in sub-Saharan African countries, including Guinea. Skilled birth attendance (SBA) is one of the crucial interventions to avert preventable obstetric complications and related maternal deaths. However, within-country inequalities prevent a large proportion of women from receiving skilled birth attendance.

Individual, household, and community-level predictors of modern contraceptive use among married women in Cameroon: a multilevel analysis.

Background: Unintended pregnancy remains a major public health and socio-economic problem in sub-Saharan African countries, including Cameroon. Modern contraceptive use can avert unintended pregnancy and its related problems. In Cameroon, the prevalence of modern contraceptive use is low.

Pregnant women's decision-making capacity and adherence to iron supplementation in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country analysis of 25 countries.

Background: Anaemia and related complications during pregnancy is a global problem but more prevalent in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Women's decision-making power has significantly been linked with maternal health service utilization but there is inadequate evidence about adherence to iron supplementation. This study therefore assessed the association between household decision-making power and iron supplementation adherence among pregnant married women in 25 sub-Saharan African countries.

High-risk fertility behaviours among women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: High-risk fertility behaviours such as too early or advanced age at delivery, shorter birth interval, birth order and a higher number of live births to a woman often lead to adverse maternal and child health outcomes. We assessed high-risk fertility behaviours and their associated factors among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: Data on 200 716 women pooled from the demographic and health surveys of 27 countries conducted between 2010 and 2020 in SSA were analysed.

Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among married women in 19 sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains the region with the highest burden of anemia globally. Since anemia has both health and non-health-related consequences, its reduction is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among married women in SSA.

Association between women's empowerment and diarrhoea in children under five years: evidence from the 2017/18 Benin Demographic and Health Survey.

Globally, diarrhoea is the third leading cause of death for under five-children. Women's empowerment can significantly reduce under-five mortality due to diarrhoea. This study investigated the association between women's empowerment and childhood diarrhoea in Benin using data from the 2017/18 Benin Demographic and Health Survey.

Association between Attitude towards Wife Beating and Childhood Diarrhea: A Demographic and Health Survey-Based Study in 25 Sub-Saharan African Countries.

Background: Childhood diarrhea remains a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Women empowerment reduces child mortality, and wife beating attitude is one of the indicators of women empowerment. There is a dearth of evidence about wife beating attitudes and childhood diarrhea in SSA.

Determining Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors in Cameroon: A Multilevel Analysis.

Background: Anemia constitutes a major public health concern, which is associated with maternal and perinatal mortality. In low- and middle-income countries, the burden of anemia is profoundly high. Cameroon, as one of the low- and middle-income countries, has a disproportionate anemia burden.