Healthcare access barriers and maternal healthcare service uptake in 14 sub-Saharan African countries (2017-2021): a propensity score matched analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The increasing inequality and multifaceted barriers to accessing maternal healthcare services play a significant role in the observed high maternal mortality ratios in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries compared with other regions. Evidence is required to understand the relationship between barriers to healthcare access and the utilisation of maternal healthcare services. This study aims to assess the role of healthcare access barriers in the uptake of maternal health services in SSA.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional, demographic and health survey data from 14 SSA countries. We included 31 940 (31 553 weighted) reproductive-age women who had given birth in the year preceding the survey. Healthcare access barrier was an exposure variable and considered when a w

SUBMITTER: Belay DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12863339 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature