Abstract
Abstract
Background
Short birth interval, defined as a birth-to-birth interval less than 33 months, is associated with adverse maternal and child outcomes. Evidence regarding the association of maternal socioeconomic status and short birth interval is inconclusive. Factors contributing to the socioeconomic inequality of short birth interval have also not been investigated. The current study assessed socioeconomic inequality in short birth interval and its contributing factors in Ethiopia.
Methods
Data from 8448 women collected in the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health survey were included in the study. Socioeconomic inequality in short birth interval was the outcome variable. Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) and concentration curves were used to measure and illustrate socioeconomic-related inequality in short birth interval, respectively. Decomposition analysis was performed to identify factors explaining the socioeconomic-related inequality in short birth interval.
Results
The Erreygers normalized concentration index for short birth interval was − 0.0478 (SE = 0.0062) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.0001); indicating that short birth interval was more concentrated among the poor. Decomposition analysis indicated that wealth quintiles (74.2%), administrative regions (26.4%), and not listening to the radio (5.6%) were the major contributors to the pro-poor socioeconomic inequalities in short birth interval.
Conclusion
There was a pro-poor inequality of short birth interval in Ethiopia. Strengthening the implementation of poverty alleviation programs may improve the population’s socioeconomic status and reduce the associated inequality in short birth interval.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Reference75 articles.
1. Arcaya MC, Arcaya AL, Subramanian S. Inequalities in health: definitions, concepts, and theories. Glob Health Action. 2015;8(1):27106.
2. Whitehead M. The concepts and principles of equity and health. Health Promot Int. 1991;6(3):217–28.
3. Graham H. Understanding health inequalities: McGraw-hill education (UK); 2009.
4. Hosseinpoor AR, Williams JAS, Itani L, Chatterji S. Socioeconomic inequality in domains of health: results from the world health surveys. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):198.
5. Makinen M, Waters H, Rauch M, Almagambetova N, Bitrán R, Gilson L, et al. Inequalities in health care use and expenditures: empirical data from eight developing countries and countries in transition. Bull World Health Organ. 2000;78:55–65.