Background: Within the continuum of reproductive health care, antenatal care (ANC) provides a platform for vital health care functions, such as disease prevention, health promotion, screening, and diagnosis. It has been widely confirmed that by implementing appropriate evidence-based practices, ANC can save lives. Previous studies investigated the utilization of ANC based on the four visits model. The new guidelines set by the World Health Organization 2016 recommended increasing contacts with health providers from four to eight contacts. The present study aims to determine the frequency, determinants, and socioeconomic inequalities of ANC utilization based on the eight or more contacts in Benin. This will provide information for policy makers to improve ANC utilization. Methods: We used a population-based cross-sectional data from Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS)—2017–2018. The outcome variable considered for this study was coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts. About 1094 women of reproductive age who became pregnant after the new guideline of ≥ 8 ANC contacts was endorsed were included in this study. The determinants for ≥ 8 ANC contacts were measured using multivariable logistic regression. Concentration (Conc.) Index and Lorenz curves were used to estimate the socioeconomic inequalities of ≥ 8 ANC contacts. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts was 8.0%; 95%CI 6.5%, 9.7%. The results of timing of antenatal care initiation showed that women who had late booking (after 1st trimester) had 97% reduction in ≥ 8 ANC contacts compared with women who initiated ANC contacts within the first trimester (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.03; 95% CI 0.00, 0.21). In addition, women with medium or high enlightenment were 4.55 and 5.49 as more likely to have ≥ 8 ANC contacts, compared with women having low enlightenment (AOR = 4.55; 95% CI 1.41, 14.69 and AOR = 5.49; 95% CI 1.77, 17.00, respectively). Conc. Index for the household wealth-related factor was 0.33; p < 0.001 for urban women and 0.37; p < 0.001 for the total sample. Similarly, Conc. Index for maternal education was 0.18; p = 0.006 for urban women and 0.21; p < 0.001 for the total sample. Conclusion: Secondary analysis of the BDHS showed low coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts in Benin. In addition, women’s enlightenment, early ANC initiation, and socioeconomic inequalities determined the coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts. The findings bring to limelight the need to enhance women’s enlightenment through formal education, exposure to mass media, and other channels of behavior change communication. Health care programs which encourage early antenatal care initiation should be designed or strengthened to enhance the coverage of ANC contacts in Benin.

Background: WHO/UNICEF recommends that women in resource-poor developing countries- like the Gambia, should exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of their lives because of its health benefits to both mother and infant. The study aimed to explore the cultural beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of lactating mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding in The Gambia. Methods: This was a qualitative ethnographic study of culture-sharing groups of mothers with infants 4 to 6 months old. The study was conducted from July to October 2014 and data collection was done through a face-to-face, in-depth interview and moderate participant observation. The study recruited 22 breastfeeding mothers attending government health facilities in the Kanifing Municipality. The collected data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through a constant comparison method generating six cultural themes, each with sub-themes. Results: Baby’s welfare is traditionally based on the types of food mother’s eat. To this end, mothers reportedly shunned eating green leafy vegetables, liquid and hot foods for their infants’ wellbeing. Encounters such as weight loss, nipple inflammation, and backache, which mothers associated with hyper latching and sitting for prolonged breastfeeding, respectively, were among major undesirable physical effects revealed by the participants. Furthermore, the necessity of giving water to infants for their survival was illustrated as a barricade to exclusive breastfeeding practices. Likewise, the entrenched practice of giving charm water to instill the Islamic faith and shielding infants against evil spirits was another factor influencing exclusive breastfeeding practices. Finally, the belief that breast milk adequacy is based on breast size and nurturing men’s physical strength by starting prelacteal feeds early in infancy also contributes to the meek exclusive breastfeeding rate among mothers. Conclusion: This study could be a gazette piece for effective policy making and enhance nurses’ cultural sensitivity while caring for lactating mothers. Cultural meanings of health care behaviors in lactating mothers challenge universally applying guidelines of exclusive breastfeeding to all societies. The study findings could benefit healthcare providers in informing policies and designing culturally adaptive and acceptable community-based breastfeeding intervention programs in resource-limited settings.

Background: Childhood stunting and anemia are on the increase in many resource-constrained settings, without a counter increase in proper feeding practices such as exclusive breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of stunting, anemia and exclusive breastfeeding across African countries. Methods: Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 39 African countries was analyzed. Data from under 5 children were analyzed. Forest plot was used to determine inequalities in the prevalence of the outcome variables. Results: The prevalence of stunting was highest in Burundi (56%), Madagascar (50%) and Niger (44%). In addition, Burkina Faso (88%), Mali (82%), Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea (75% each) and Niger (73%) had the highest prevalence of anemia. Furthermore, Burundi (83%), Rwanda (81%) and Zambia (70%) had the highest exclusive breastfeeding. We found statistical significant difference in the prevalence of stunting, anemia and exclusive breastfeeding (p < 0.001). Higher prevalence of stunting and anemia were estimated among the male, rural residents, those having mothers with low education and from poor household wealth. Conclusion: Concerted efforts are required to improve childhood health, survival and proper feeding practice. Reduced stunting and anemia could be achieved through sustained socioeconomic improvement that is shared in equity and equality among the population. Interventions aimed at increasing food availability can also aid in the reduction of hunger, particularly in impoverished communities.

Background: For the prevention of complications and death during pregnancy, adequate antenatal care (ANC) contacts are important. To achieve optimal obstetric care, the latest ANC guidance recommends eight or more ANC contacts. The aim of this analysis is to investigate the prevalence and socio-economic differences of eight or more Ghanaian ANC contacts. Methods: A total sample of 1404 women of reproductive age who had given birth after eight or more ANC contacts had been initiated, taking into account 9 months of gestation, was studied. The Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey of 2019 (GMIS) was used. In the univariate analysis, percentage was used. The curve and concentration index of Lorenz were used to assess socio-economic disparities for eight or more ANC contacts. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: The weighted prevalence of eight or more ANC contacts was 41.9% (95% CI: 37.9– 45.9%). The prevalence of eight or more ANC contacts among the poorest, poorer, middle, richer and richest households was 34.0%, 36.1%, 35.8%, 42.4% and 59.6%, respectively. Similarly, 33.0%, 37.7% and 42.6% prevalence of eight or more ANC contacts were estimated among women with no formal education, primary, secondary or higher, respectively. In addition, women from rich household had greater coverage of eight or more ANC contacts (Conc. Index= 0.089; SE= 0.019) and educated women had greater coverage of eight or more ANC contacts in Ghana (Conc. Index= 0.053; SE= 0.017) (all p< 0.001). Conclusion: Eight or more ANC contacts from the WHO in 2016 have yet to be fully institutionalized in Ghana. In order to increase access to the recommended prenatal care and for a healthy pregnancy experience, measures that resolve disparities in healthcare usage need to be prioritized for the country. Efforts should be made to expand the health insurance services available, as well as to enact policies that will increase free health care particularly among the poor and uneducated women.

Background: Vaccination has long been recognized as one of the most effective ways to reduce child mortality. It has played a significant role, particularly for children, and is considered a major achievement and relevant in preventing childhood diseases worldwide. This study looks at the uptake and determinants of childhood vaccination status among children under the age of one year, for Gambia, Sierra Leon, and Liberia. Method: Data from 2019 to 20 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia were pooled for the analysis used in this study. Data were obtained from a total weighted sample of 5,368 children aged 0–12 months through a stratified two-stage cluster sampling approach. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the predictors of childhood vaccination uptake at 95% confidence interval (CIs) with computed adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Results: The weighted sample pooled prevalence of full vaccination among children under 12 months of age was 15.1% for males and 15.0% for females. After controlling for confounders in the regression model, factors that were found to be associated with vaccination status include children whose mothers attended postnatal care (PNC) visits had higher odds of being fully vaccinated (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.03–1.46), while children whose fathers had primary education (aOR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.48–0.96), children whose households never watched TV (aOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.56–0.82) and children whose mothers attended 1–3 antenatal care (ANC) visits (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45–0.79) had lower odds of being fully vaccinated. Conclusion: Childhood vaccination uptake was low among children under 12 months of age in these countries. Hence, there is a need to promote the uptake of vaccination across these three West African countries especially among rural dwellers.

Background: Mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is an immediate postpartum intervention known to improve the health of newborn and mothers alike. Albeit, there is paucity of data that explored the coverage or factors associated with SSC in Nigeria. Therefore, we aimed to explore the coverage and hierarchical nature of the factors associated with SSC among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Methods: The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data was used for this study. Data on 29,992 women who had ever given birth were extracted for analysis. SSC was the outcome variable as determined by women’s report. A multivariable multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate the fixed and random effects of the factors associated with SSC. Statistical significance was determined at p< 0.05. Results: The coverage of SSC was approximately 12.0%. Educated women had higher odds of SSC, when compared with women with no formal education. Those who delivered through caesarean section (CS) had 88% reduction in SSC, when compared with women who had vaginal delivery (OR= 0.12; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.22). Women who delivered at health facility were 15.58 times as likely to practice SSC, when compared with those who delivered at home (OR= 15.58; 95%CI: 10.64, 22.82). Adequate ANC visits and low birth weight significantly increased the odds of SSC. Women from richest household were 1.70 times as likely to practice SSC, when compared with women from poorest household (OR= 1.70; 95%CI: 1.04, 2.79). There was 65% reduction in SSC among women with high rate of community non-use of media, when compared with women from low rate of community non-use of media (OR= 0.35; 95%CI: 0.20, 0.61). Conclusion: SSC coverage was low in Nigeria. Moreover, individual, household and community level factors were associated with SSC. More enlightenment should be created among women to bring to limelight the importance of SSC specifically to newborn’s health.