Title : The evolution of socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in Woman and Child Health in Mozambique between 2014 2019
Abstract:
over the last years, Mozambique has implemented many initiatives such as health sector plans and strategies to ensure equitable access to health care services. While there have been some achievements in terms of coverage, the effects of these plans and strategies on socioeconomic inequalities in health care have not been analysed. The present study assesses women’s and children’s socioeconomic inequalities in health care access between 2014-2019.The present study was based on two cross-sectional surveys conducted in Mozambique. The 2015 Immunization, Malaria and HIV survey and the 2018 Malaria Indicator survey. Data from women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) were analysed to evaluate health care coverage across three indicators: Insecticide treated net usage and fever treatment of children, and Fansidar malaria prophylaxis of pregnant women. Absolute risk differences were calculated between socioeconomic variables using binomial regression analysis for each time period. The Slope Index of Inequality was calculated for health outcomes by each socioeconomic variable and period. A multiplicative interaction term between the socioeconomic variables and period was included to assess the changes in socioeconomic inequalities in health care. Access to health care increased in all the studied outcomes between 2015. Significant reductions in inequality related to use of insecticide treated net (ITN) were observed for all socioeconomic variables. However, we did not observe any reduction in socioeconomic inequalities for fever treatment and Fansidar prophylaxis. While socioeconomic inequalities in the use of ITN decreased during the plan implementation period, this was not the case for fever treatment and Fansidar prophylaxis. Policy decision makers must target underserved populations to address health inequalities, specifically for non-educated
women living in rural regions.
