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. 2024 Sep 25;19(9):e0304975.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304975. eCollection 2024.

Barriers to healthcare access among reproductive age women in extremely high and very high maternal mortality countries: Multilevel mixed effect analysis

Wubshet Debebe Negash  1 , Adina Yeshambel Belay  1 , Lakew Asmare  2 , Demiss Mulatu Geberu  1 , Asebe Hagos  1 , Melak Jejaw  1 , Kaleb Assegid Demissie  1 , Misganaw Guadie Tiruneh  1 , Kaleab Mesfin Abera  3 , Yawkal Tsega  4 , Abel Endawkie  2 , Nigusu Worku  1 , Amare Mesfin Workie  5 , Lamrot Yohannes  6 , Mihret Getnet  7   8
Affiliations

Barriers to healthcare access among reproductive age women in extremely high and very high maternal mortality countries: Multilevel mixed effect analysis

Wubshet Debebe Negash et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: It is widely recognized that maternal deaths in low-resource countries are attributed to deprived access to maternal health services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess barriers to healthcare access among reproductive age women in extremely high and very high maternal mortality countries.

Methods: A community based cross sectional surveys were conducted among 181,472 reproductive age women. Stata version 17.0 was used to analyze the data. Mixed effect binary logistic regression model was analyzed. Odds ratio along with 95% CI was generated to identify factors associated with barriers to healthcare access. A p-value less than 0.05 was declared as statistical significance.

Results: A total of 64.3% (95% CI: 64.06, 64.54) reproductive age women faced barriers to healthcare access. Young age, no formal education, poor wealth index, no media exposure, multiparty, no health insurance coverage, and rural residence were significantly associated with barriers to healthcare access.

Conclusion: More than six in ten reproductive age women had barriers to healthcare access in extremely high and very high maternal mortality countries. Increasing extensive health education, minimizing financial hardship by expanding health insurance may minimize barriers to healthcare access with attention to rural resident reproductive age women.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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