Multilevel geospatial analysis of factors associated with unskilled birth attendance in Ghana

Abstract

Background Globally, about 810 women die every day due to pregnancy and its related complications. Although the death of women during pregnancy or childbirth has declined from 342 deaths to 211 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2017, maternal mortality is still higher, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where 86% of all deaths occur. Methods A secondary analysis was carried out using the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. A sample total of 4,290 women who had a live birth in the 5 years preceding the survey was included in the analysis. GIS software was used to explore the spatial distribution of unskilled birth attendance in Ghana. The Geographic Weighted Regression (GWR) was employed to model the spatial relationship of some predictor of unskilled birth attendance. Moreover, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with unskilled birth attendance. Results In this study, unskilled birth attendance had spatial variations across the country. The hotspot, cluster and outlier analysis identified the concerned districts in the north-eastern part of Ghana. The GWR analysis identified different predictors of unskilled birth attendance across districts of Ghana. In the multilevel analysis, mothers with no education, no health insurance coverage, and mothers from households with lower wealth status had higher odds of unskilled birth attendance. Being multi and grand multiparous, perception of distance from the health facility as not a big problem, urban residence, women residing in communities with medium and higher poverty level had lower odds of unskilled birth attendance. Conclusion Unskilled birth attendance had spatial variations across the country. Areas with high levels of unskilled birth attendance had mothers who had no formal education, not health insured, mothers from poor households and communities, primiparous women, mothers from remote and border districts could get special attention in terms of allocation of resources including skilled human power, and improved access to health facilities.

Spatial and multilevel analysis of unskilled birth attendance in Chad

“…Studies found that socioeconomic conditions with geographic inequalities have significant effects on health outcomes and behaviours, such as seeking services of unskilled birth attendants in SSA countries including Chad [ 7 , 12 , 19 ]. Our geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis showed similar findings, indicating that some regional contextual factors were associated with the prevalence of unskilled birth attendance among women in Chad.…”

“…Women with no formal education in sub-regions or departments of the northern and eastern parts of Chad were about 6.8% more likely to experience or seek the services of unskilled birth attendants. A possible reason is that women with no formal education in those areas may have limited knowledge about the possible consequences of unskilled birth attendance, or where to seek services of skilled birth attendants [ 7 , 12 ]. Occupational or employment disparities also play a significant role in the prevalence of unskilled birth attendance among women in Chad.…”

“…The independent variables of the current study were mainly informed by findings of existing studies on unskilled birth attendance [12][13][14]. The independent variables considered in the current study are both individual and community level variables measured at the cluster level.…”

“…Thus, socioeconomic status and literacy level were measured as low, moderate, and high at the primary sampling unit level (cluster) while place of residence was measured as urban or rural. The explanatory variables of the current study were mainly informed by findings of existing studies on unskilled birth attendance [12][13][14].…”

Non-adherence to WHO’s recommended antenatal care visits: Geospatial analysis of the 2017 Maternal Health Survey

“…GWR is a local model that estimates the different responses of the dependent variable on independent variables based on locational effects [22]. This explains the spatial predictive power of the signi cant factors explaining the occurrence of the noncompliance of ANC in Ghana.…”