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. 2019 Nov 25:34:158.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.158.16622. eCollection 2019.

Developing equity-focused interventions for maternal and child health in Nigeria: an evidence synthesis for policy, based on equitable impact sensitive tool (EQUIST)

Chigozie Jesse Uneke  1 , Issiaka Sombie  2 , Henry Chukwuemeka Uro-Chukwu  1 , Ermel Johnson  2
Affiliations

Developing equity-focused interventions for maternal and child health in Nigeria: an evidence synthesis for policy, based on equitable impact sensitive tool (EQUIST)

Chigozie Jesse Uneke et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Among the most critical health systems components that requires strengthening to improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) outcomes in Nigeria is the concept of equity. UNICEF has designed the equitable impact sensitive tool (EQUIST) to enable policymakers improve equity in MNCH and reduce disparities between the most marginalized mothers and young children and the better-off.

Methods: Using the latest available DHS data sets, we conducted EQUIST situation and scenario analysis of MNCH outcomes in Nigeria by sub-national categorization, wealth and by residence. We then identified the intervention package, the bottlenecks and strategies to address them and the number of deaths avertible.

Results: EQUIST profile analysis showed that the number of under-five deaths was considerably higher among the poorest and rural population in Nigeria, and was highest in North-West region. Neonatal causes, malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea were responsible for most of the under-five deaths. Highest maternal mortality was recorded in the North-West Nigeria. Ante-partum, intrapartum and postpartum haemorrhages and hypertensive disorder, were responsible for highest maternal deaths. EQUIST scenario analysis showed that an intervention package of insecticide treated net can avert more than 20,000 under-five deaths and delivery by skilled professionals can avert nearly 17,000 under-five deaths. While as many as 3,370 maternal deaths can be averted by deployment of skilled professionals.

Conclusion: Scaling up integrated packages of essential interventions across the continuum of care, addressing the human resource shortages in rural area and economic/social empowerment of women are policy recommendations that can improve MNCH outcomes in Nigeria.

Keywords: EQUIST; Nigeria; child; health; maternal.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
EQUIST situational analysis of Nigeria under-five mortality by province (geopolitical zones)
Figure 2
Figure 2
EQUIST situational analysis of Nigeria neonatal mortality by province (geopolitical zones)
Figure 3
Figure 3
EQUIST situational analysis of Nigeria maternal mortality by province (geopolitical zones)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Nigeria under-five mortality by cause and by province (geopolitical zones)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Nigeria neonatal mortality by cause and by province (geopolitical zones)
Figure 6
Figure 6
North West zone of Nigeria under-five mortality avertible by epidemiological causes by operational and equity frontier
Figure 7
Figure 7
North West zone of Nigeria maternal mortality avertible by epidemiological causes by operational frontier
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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