Determinants of change in timely first antenatal booking among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A decomposition analysis

Background Even though maternal health was highly targeted in different global strategies, maternal mortality could not be decreased as was expected. Besides this, prior decomposition analysis to the possible cause of changes to timely first antenatal booking has not been conducted. Therefore, this study aimed to assess determinants of change in timely first antenatal booking among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods The study utilized three consecutive Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) datasets which were collected through cross-sectional study design. The number of pregnant women who gave birth in 2005, 2011 and 2016 survey included in the analysis was 7,307, 7,908 and 7,590 respectively. The data were analyzed by using Stata/SE version 14.0. Logit-based decomposition analysis was done to identify contributing factors for change in timely first antenatal booking and statistical significance was determined by using P-value. Results The trend of timely first antenatal booking was increased from 6% to 20% in the last ten years. The analysis revealed that 14% of the overall change was because of the change in women’s composition. Changes in the composition of women according to region, education and occupation status were the major sources of this change. The remaining, 86% of the change was due to differences in the coefficient. Mostly, the change in behaviors of the Oromia population, those who have lived in the rural areas and male household head were some of the contributing factors for the increase in timely first antenatal booking. Conclusions There was a significant increase in timely first antenatal booking among pregnant women in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2016 EDHS. The change in the women composition according to residency, education and occupation status of women and the difference in behaviors like: behavior of rural residents and male household head contributed to the majority of the change. Interventions targeting the male household head, rural residents and those women who lived in the Oromia region should be emphasized to increase further timely booking. In addition, promoting women in terms of education and creating job opportunities could be the other recalled intervention areas of the country.

An Analysis of Mobile Financial Services and Financial Inclusion in Bangladesh

In a short span of time, starting in 2011, mobile financial services (MFSs) have burgeoned in Bangladesh, and elsewhere in the developing world. MFSs have brought about major changes in financial products and institutional structures in the financial services market. The study of Bangladesh’s experience with MFS shows that financial inclusion has greatly improved along with efficiency of provision. This article shows that the probability of using MFSs by a household increases by about 43 per cent if the households have temporary domestic migrant members. Female household heads are less likely to use MFS compared to male household head. Out of 1,588 micro merchants in the sample, around 30 per cent have access to MFSs. Individuals engaged in the non-agriculture sector, those from households with the head having higher education, those from non-poor households and those from urban areas have higher probabilities of MFS use. But more research must be done to design appropriate MFS products for the poor, so that they too can also leverage the benefits of MFSs.

The Rise and Decline of the Male Breadwinner Family? An Overview of the Debate

In recent years feminist scholars have called for a complete rethinking and revision of the foundations of labour history as a necessary prerequisite for the integration of gender as a core concept into histories of labour and social class. In this attempt one of the most deeply rooted assumptions in male-oriented labour history needs to be identified and made subject to careful rethinking, namely the assumption that the public and the private sphere should be seen in terms of an essentially gendered opposition. Undoubtedly, one of the most powerful images used not only to represent but also to justify the gendering of the public and the private sphere is the image of the male breadwinner family and the male household head as the sole provider for his dependent wife and children. For this reason, the articles in this volume are all firmly at the heart of what may currently be seen as the crucial intersections in the history of labour, gender and social class.

The Socioeconomics of the Blind Male Breadwinner

This paper cites the need for comprehensive data on the socioeconomic impact of blindness on the adventitiously blinded male adult regarding either his continuing role of self-sufficient family provider or his new role of dependency. The author examines the social and economic forces affecting such men in terms of goal setting, family life, attitudes, status, and income. From his examination of case records, the author concludes that the adventitiously blinded male must set realistic employment goals and make personal and social adjustments or risk facing a life of dependency. The author also provides estimates of income versus cost for the adventitiously blinded male household head, ages 40–65, as a basis for comparing self-sufficiency and dependency.