Inequalities in care-seeking behaviour for childhood acute respiratory tract infection in Mauritania: evidence from the WHO health equity assessment toolkit of two national health surveys

Background

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality. In Mauritania, very few children who experience ARI receive medical treatment. Additionally, inequalities in the care-seeking behaviour for ARI have not been assessed in the country.

Objective

To examine inequalities in care-seeking behaviour for childhood ARI in Mauritania and assess the extent to which they have changed between 2000–2001 and 2019–2021.

Design

A population-based cross-sectional study using the WHO health equity assessment toolkit.

Setting

Mauritania.

Participants

Under-five children.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We utilised inequality measures, including Difference (D), Ratio (R), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Population Attributable Risk (PAR). The results were disaggregated based on five dimensions of inequality. We calculated these measures separately for each of the two surveys and then compared their estimates.

Results

The proportion of care-seeking behaviour for ARI rose slightly from 45.2% in 2000–2001 to 46.4% in 2019–2021, reflecting an increase of only 1.2%. Rural-urban inequalities showed the largest decline between 2000–2001 (D=30.0; R=2.0; PAF=33.5, PAR=15.2) and 2019–2021 (D=12.0; R=1.3; PAF=17.4, PAR=8.1). Disparities based on wealth (2000–2001: D=40.3; R=3.0; PAF=34.6, PAR=15.6; 2019–2021: D=30.5; R=2.1; PAF=25.1, PAR=11.6) and maternal education (2000–2001: D=25.1; R=1.6; PAF=49.8, PAR=22.5; 2019–2021: D=19.1; R=1.4; PAF=34.1, PAR=15.8) were also reduced. Inequalities related to the sex of the child were minimal. However, discrepancies across subnational regions were evident in both survey rounds.

Conclusion

Care-seeking behaviour for ARI in Mauritania has shown slow progress over the past 20 years. Large inequalities persist, particularly by place of residence, wealth and maternal education. Efforts to strengthen equitable health service access should prioritise reducing geographic and socioeconomic disparities by targeting children from poor households, with less educated mothers, and living in rural areas to ensure all children benefit equally from healthcare services.

Factors influencing breast cancer screening among reproductive age women in Lesotho: Analysis of the 2023-24 demographic and health survey using the Andersen Behavioral Model

by Mesfin Abebe, Yordanos Sisay Asgedom, Amanuel Yosef Gebrekidan, Tsion Mulat Tebeje

Background

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women globally and a significant public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for approximately 15% of all cancer-related mortality. In sub-Saharan Africa, breast cancer incidences increased by 247% from 1990 to 2019. In Lesotho, breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women, a situation worsened by a fragile healthcare system and low screening rates. Despite its high morbidity and mortality, there is limited understanding of the factors influencing breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age. This study aims to identify these factors by utilizing the newly released Lesotho DHS dataset and the Anderson Behavioral Model.

Methods

This study utilized a cross-sectional design with data from the recent Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS), which employed a stratified two-stage sampling method across 400 Enumeration Areas and 9,976 households. This analysis included a weighted sample of 6,413 reproductive-age women (15–49 years) to determine factors of breast cancer screening. The predisposing, enabling, and need factors were examined using the Andersen Behavioral Model. Stata version 16 was used for a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals, and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Lesotho was 22.20% (95% CI 21.19–23.23). Significant factors included age 25–34 (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.26–1.88), age 35–49 (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI 1.71–2.58), healthcare facility visits in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.26–1.71), health insurance coverage (AOR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.36–2.53), high media exposure (AOR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01–2.52), contraceptive use (AOR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.03–1.37), and parity: multiparous (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.84–2.85) and grand multiparous (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.16–2.40).

Conclusion

This finding that 22.2% of reproductive age women in Lesotho underwent breast cancer screening highlights a pressing gap in preventive health efforts. The Andersen Behavioral Model underscores key determinants that significantly influence breast cancer screening uptake in our study. Significant factors included age, healthcare facility visits, health insurance coverage, media exposure, contraceptive usage, and parity. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that address model-based determinants to improve breast cancer screening uptake.