Determinants of Maternal Healthcare Utilization in Zimbabwe

Muchabaiwa L. (), Mazambani D., Lloyd Chigusiwa, Bindu S. and Mudavanhu V.
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Muchabaiwa L.: Bindura University of Science Education, Economics Department, P. Bag 1020 Bindura, Zimbabwe
Mazambani D.: Bindura University of Science Education, Economics Department, P. Bag 1020 Bindura, Zimbabwe
Bindu S.: Bindura University of Science Education, Economics Department, P. Bag 1020 Bindura, Zimbabwe
Mudavanhu V.: Bindura University of Science Education, Economics Department, P. Bag 1020 Bindura, Zimbabwe

International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), 2012, vol. 5, issue 2, 145-162

Abstract: Zimbabwe and other developing countries struggle to achieve millennium development goals originally set for 2015. To assist health policy making, there was an investigation of how demographic, socioeconomic and cultural factors determine maternal healthcare services use in Zimbabwe. A logistic model for four different maternal healthcare services using data from the 2005/6 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey was estimated. Secondary education increases the odds of use of maternal health services by at least 2 times at 1 percent level of significance whilst access to information increases the odds by 1.52 at the 5 percent level of significance. Women in urban areas are more likely to give birth at healthcare facilities OR 3.49 compared to their rural counterparts at 1 percent significance level. Women from highest income households are more likely to give birth at health facilities than those from poorest households OR 6.44 at 1 percent level of significance whilst the pattern is consistent for other services as well. Other important determinants are age, education, wealth, polygamy and religious affiliation. Generally, policy makers have to appreciate that these factors affect different maternal health services differently. Consequently, strategies to improve the uptake of maternal healthcare like mass media and health workers, particularly for disadvantaged sections of the population like rural areas and the uneducated, should be targeted at specific components rather than planning umbrella strategies.

Keywords: Utilisation; Maternal healthcare; Millennium Development Goals; Zimbabwe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I18 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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