Inequities and Disparities: An Investigation of Antenatal Visits in Mozambique

Mozambique is a southeastern sub-Saharan African country with the highest maternal, infant, and neonatal mortality rates. Low antenatal visits were often associated with high levels of these indicators. This study examined the changes in antenatal care and the factors affecting antenatal visits for policy making.

Data from the Mozambique DHS (2022-23) were used for the analyses. The variables were selected from the individual-interpersonal-community framework, and zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to test the factors associated with antenatal visits.

Higher education among women (IRR:1.057; OR: 0.34) and partner’s education (IRR:1.155), having a job [either agriculture (OR:0.341) or non-agriculture (IRR: 1.077; OR: 0.341)], higher wealth (IRR>1; OR<1), and use of the Internet (IRR:1.046) were positively associated with antenatal visits. Problems in obtaining permission (OR:2.35), not wanting to go alone (OR: 1.97), longer distances (IRR: 0.966), and being in a rural area (OR:2.38) were negatively associated with antenatal visits.

Antenatal visits to Mozambique were severely limited by individual, interpersonal, and community inequities. These can be overcome by tailored policymaking addressing these barriers instead of a single and uniform maternal care policy.