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. 2015;36(1):57-69.
doi: 10.1080/07399332.2013.824971. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Gender equality as a means to improve maternal and child health in Africa

Kavita Singh  1 , Shelah Bloom, Paul Brodish
Affiliations

Gender equality as a means to improve maternal and child health in Africa

Kavita Singh et al. Health Care Women Int. 2015.

Abstract

In this article we examine whether measures of gender equality, household decision making, and attitudes toward gender-based violence are associated with maternal and child health outcomes in Africa. We pooled Demographic and Health Surveys data from eight African countries and used multilevel logistic regression on two maternal health outcomes (low body mass index and facility delivery) and two child health outcomes (immunization status and treatment for an acute respiratory infection). We found protective associations between the gender equality measures and the outcomes studied, indicating that gender equality is a potential strategy to improve maternal and child health in Africa.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary statistics for four maternal and child health outcomes, pooled data for eight countries (n = 50,246)
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