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Is Women’s Engagement in Women’s Development Groups Associated with Enhanced Utilization of Maternal and Neonatal Health Services? A Cross-Sectional Study in Ethiopia

Author

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  • Fisseha Ashebir Gebregizabher

    (Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle P.O. Box 07, Ethiopia
    School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia)

  • Araya Abrha Medhanyie

    (School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia)

  • Afework Mulugeta Bezabih

    (School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia)

  • Lars Åke Persson

    (Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
    Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1242, Ethiopia)

  • Della Berhanu Abegaz

    (Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
    Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1242, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Background: In Ethiopia, the Women Development Group program is a community mobilization initiative aimed at enhancing Universal Health Coverage through supporting the primary healthcare services for mothers and newborns. This study aimed to assess the association between engagement in women’s groups and the utilization of maternal and neonatal health services. Method: A cluster-sampled community-based survey was conducted in Oromia, Amhara, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, and Tigray regions of Ethiopia from mid-December 2018 to mid-February 2019. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed, considering the cluster character of the sample. Results: A total of 6296 women (13 to 49 years) from 181 clusters were interviewed. Of these, 896 women delivered in the 12 months prior to the survey. Only 79 (9%) of these women including Women Development Group leaders reported contact with Women Development Groups in the last 12 months preceding the survey. Women who had educations and greater economic status had more frequent contact with Women Development Group leaders. Women who had contact with Women Development Groups had better knowledge on pregnancy danger signs. Being a Women Development Group leader or having contact with Women Development Groups in the last 12 months were associated with antenatal care utilization (AOR 2.82, 95% CI (1.23, 6.45)) but not with the use of facility delivery and utilization of postnatal care services. Conclusions: There is a need to improve the organization and management of the Women Development Group program as well as a need to strengthen the Women Development Group leaders’ engagement in group activities to promote the utilization of maternal and neonatal health services.

Suggested Citation

  • Fisseha Ashebir Gebregizabher & Araya Abrha Medhanyie & Afework Mulugeta Bezabih & Lars Åke Persson & Della Berhanu Abegaz, 2023. "Is Women’s Engagement in Women’s Development Groups Associated with Enhanced Utilization of Maternal and Neonatal Health Services? A Cross-Sectional Study in Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1351-:d:1032669
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maes, Kenneth & Closser, Svea & Tesfaye, Yihenew & Abesha, Roza, 2019. "Psychosocial distress among unpaid community health workers in rural Ethiopia: Comparing leaders in Ethiopia's Women's Development Army to their peers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 138-146.
    2. Alem Desta Wuneh & Afework Mulugeta Bezabih & Yemisrach Behailu Okwaraji & Lars Åke Persson & Araya Abrha Medhanyie, 2022. "Wealth and Education Inequities in Maternal and Child Health Services Utilization in Rural Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
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