Social factors of the nonuse or the inadequate use of prenatal care in Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Background: In Côte d’Ivoire, the health situation, and particularly that of pregnant women, is very critical since the socio-political crisis which is facing this country. Indeed, the maternal mortality rate has passed in this country from 543 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births in2005 to 614 maternal deaths in 2011.

Objectives: As most of the medical causes of maternal mortality are preventable, it is pertinent to identify and prioritise the factors of the non-use of prenatal care and those of its inadequate use, to identify their mechanisms of actions and to characterise women who are more adopted by the above-mentioned risky behaviours. These are the objectives of this study.

Methods: The data used here are those from the Demographic and Health and Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (DHS-MICS) carried out in Côte d’Ivoire in 2011–2012. To achieve the study objectives, we used the multinomial logistic regression models.

Results: It appears from the analyses that, all things being equal, the most important determinants of the studied behaviours are in order ethnicity, degree of modernity, the perception of the distance and the standard of living of the household. They explain about 60% of the total variation of the dependent variable. The women more concerned by risky behaviours are Mandé, Gour/Voltaïque and foreigners, non-modern, who difficultly have access to health centres and live in less fortunate households.

Conclusion: Therefore, it should be important to educate and sensitise women with the above cultural characteristics, as well as their partners, on the risks associated with the non-use of prenatal care services, to improve their condition of life and their access to these services.