Highlights
- In Senegal, less than half (47.9%) of the women can read and write. There is a big difference between cities, where 64.3% of women are literate, and rural areas, where only 32.2% are.
- When women can read and write, it helps improve many health outcomes for both mothers and children, such as using birth control, attending prenatal care visits, and having better-nourished children.
- To improve the health of mothers and children, we need comprehensive programmes that focus on literacy, access to health insurance, exposure to media, and better water and sanitation services.
Background
Since 2000 the world has been working to improve people’s lives beyond just growing the economy. This led to creating global goals to make life better for everyone, especially women and children. While there have been some improvements in maternal and child health worldwide, big problems remain: every day, about 810 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Most of these deaths happen in poorer countries, with two-thirds occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. In Senegal, the health system lacks enough doctors and nurses. There are only 0.4 for every 1,000 people, much lower than recommended. Women’s education is crucial for better health, but female literacy rates are still low. The government has started programmes to improve education and healthcare, but challenges persist. Only about half of pregnant women get the recommended four check-ups during pregnancy. Many young children are not growing properly due to poor nutrition.
Despite Senegal’s efforts, maternal and child health is still poor, especially in rural areas. Low literacy among women may be a key reason for this. Understanding how women’s reading and writing skills affect the health of mothers and children in Senegal is crucial to help create better plans to improve health by focusing on women’s education.
Methods
The study used data from the 2019 Senegal Demographic and Health Survey to assess the impact of women’s literacy on ten maternal and child health indicators. A total of 8649 women were interviewed, including 4345 on pregnancy and 5733 on birth spacing.
Key findings
Women’s ability to read and write affects important aspects of maternal and child health in Senegal.
- More contraceptive use: women who can read and write are more likely to use birth control, leading to better family planning and healthier spacing between births.
- Better prenatal care: literate women are more likely to go to prenatal check-ups, especially in the early months of pregnancy.
- Improved breastfeeding: women who are literate are more likely to breastfeed their babies for up to six months, giving them important nutrients and protection from diseases.
- Healthier birth intervals: literate women, especially in rural areas, tend to have healthier gaps between pregnancies, reducing health risks.
- Lower child malnutrition: literacy helps reduce child malnutrition, reduces the risk of stunting by 19% and underweight by 28% among children under five years old.
- Higher vaccination rates: mothers who can read and write are better at following vaccination schedules, ensuring their children get important immunisations, especially in rural areas.
Other key factors influencing maternal and child health outcomes include:
- Health insurance access
- Media exposure
- Access to clean water and improved sanitation
- Household wealth
There are big differences in the health of mothers and children between cities and rural areas, with rural areas generally having worse outcomes.
Conclusion
Improving women’s literacy, particularly in rural areas, can significantly enhance maternal and child health outcomes in Senegal. However, a broad approach addressing multiple socioeconomic factors is needed for maximum impact.
Policy Implications
- Current literacy programmes are insufficient, especially in rural areas. More thorough efforts are required.
- Expanding health insurance coverage could increase use of maternal health services.
- Improving access to media and health information is crucial for promoting positive health behaviours.
- Addressing practical barriers like lack of clean water and sanitation is necessary to realise health gains.
Recommendations
- Literacy campaigns: Launch widespread adult literacy programmes targeting women, especially in rural areas. Integrate health education into literacy curricula.
- Health insurance: Expand coverage through income-sensitive premiums or exceptions for poor households.
- Media campaigns: Develop targeted media campaigns to promote maternal and child health practices, leveraging radio, television, and mobile platforms.
- Infrastructure investment: Prioritise expanding access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities, particularly in rural areas.
- Integrated approach: Develop comprehensive interventions that concurrently address literacy, health access, and socioeconomic factors influencing maternal and child health.
- Rural focus: Design tailored strategies to address the unique challenges and larger literacy gaps in rural areas.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Implement robust systems to track progress on literacy rates and health indicators, allowing for continuous programme improvement.
The above article is based on this publication:
Diallo, M.A., Mbaye, N., & Aidara, I. (2023). Effect of women’s literacy on maternal and child health: Evidence from demographic Health Survey data in Senegal. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 38(3), 773-789.
Other references
Sidibe, A.M.; Kadetz, P.I.; Hesketh, T. Factors Impacting Family Planning Use in Mali and Senegal. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 4399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124399
World Health Organization. (2019). Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2017: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division: executive summary. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/327596. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO