Justin DANSOU

Despite commitments and interventions, Female Genital Mutilations (FGM) practice persists in West African countries. This research analyzes the effect of living conditions on FGM practice. Data were sourced from thirty-four demographic and health surveys conducted between 1995 and 2020 in 12 countries. The study sample consisted of 69,971 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. Meta-regression analysis and binary logistic regression analyses showed the effect and relative contribution of study covariates on the phenomenon. The overall average prevalence of FGM is 40.7%, with a mixed effect of living conditions on FGM practice. The factors associated with FGM practice are, in order of importance, religion, level of education, ethnicity and place of residence. All factors have a direct effect on the studied phenomenon, and the level of education acts as an inhibiter of the effect of living conditions. The study suggests the need to strengthen the involvement of religious, traditional and community leaders in the definition and implementation of actions to combat FGM, as well as girl's education, especially by maintaining them in school till completion of at least secondary school.

Fertility in sub-Saharan Africa is among the highest globally and relatively higher in West Africa compared to the other sub-regions of Africa. While there have been extensive studies on fertility in West Africa, the underlying spatial variations with regard to within and cross-border variations among countries has received little attention. This study examined spatial variations in fertility desire among thirteen (13) West African countries using data from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey conducted between 2010 and 2018. The analysis considers two fertility indicators; preference for another child and ideal number of children, and the spatial units were the states/regions/provinces of the countries included in the study. Bayesian spatial models were specified for the count and multi-categorical response variables respectively, with the use of Markov random field prior for the spatial components while Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation technique was used for parameter estimation. The findings suggest spatial clustering in fertility desire both within and between countries, revealing cross-border spatial contagion. Specifically, women report high number of children as ideal throughout Niger extending to neighbouring northern Nigeria, in Mopti and Koulikoro regions of Mali; in Couffo region of Benin; in Kaffrine region of Senegal and all except Basse region of The Gambia. Additionally, being young, having low or no formal education, living in poor households, being a rural dweller and not using contraceptives were negatively associated with fertility desire. Policies aimed at reducing fertility should consider the spatial dynamics in addition to targeting younger, less educated, rural dwelling women while also strengthening sensitization campaigns for family planning.

Context: Despite the renewed commitment of governments and actions taken in favor of contraception, its use is low in Benin while the unmet need for family planning remains high among women in union. This contributes to the increase in unwanted pregnancies, abortions and deaths of mothers and their infants. This article aims to highlight the factors associated with unmet need for family planning. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the Demographic and Health Survey of Benin 2011-2012 edition covering 11680 women aged 15-49 in union was carried out using the binomial logistic regression method. Results: The spouse's fertility preference and age are associated with unmet need for birth spacing while the standard of living of the household influences unmet need in birth control. In addition, the age of the woman, the number of children born alive, her area of residence and her accessibility to health services also determine the two types of unmet need for family planning. Conc...

Major changes have been observed in recent decades both in the mode of union formation and in the stability of conjugal unions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although these changes are known to vary in intensity across countries, variations across ethnical groups within countries are still not well studied. The present study investigates ethnic variations in the dissolution of first union in Senegal, focusing on five ethnic groups: Lebou, Peuhl, Sereer, Toucouleur and Wolof. It attempts to examine the specific effect of ethnicity and to identify underlying mechanisms of action of ethnic variations in union dissolution among men and women. The study uses data from a biographical survey on “vulnerabilities and chronic poverty” in Senegal (2008-2009) and event history analysis techniques. Kaplan-Meier survivor functions were used to explore bivariate relationships and Cox semi-parametric hazard model for multivariate analysis. Results showed that ethnic differences in the hazard of union disso...

Background: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin republic. Rates of decline are slow and factors influencing PNC services utilization are not well known. This study aims to assess factors associated with PNC services utilization among mothers and their newborns with special focus on the recommendation 2 of WHO guidelines on postnatal care of the mother and the newborn.Methods: This study analysed Benin’s 2011/2012 DHS data. A total of 16,599 women were interviewed where 8,275 eligible for the present study. Multinomial logistic regression was applied.Results: While 68.42% of mothers and their newborns received at least one PNC visit over postnatal period, the percent of newborns and their mothers with appropriate first PNC check-up was low, 19.95%. Factors explaining PNC uptake were place of residence, ethnic group, occupation, ANC attendance, place of delivery, baby birth size, household wealth status, mass media use, and to a lesser extent education attainment. Ac...

Background: Despite the increasing interest in improving access to and utilization of family planning (FP) methods, contraceptives prevalence rates remain low in Benin, and its benefits are not well studied. This study projected FP’s benefits for maternal health and child survival over the Sustainable Development Goals period. Methods: The Demographic Dividend Model created by the Health Policy Project using a large range of data was applied based exclusively on assumptions on FP policy options between 2015 and 2030. Results: It was found that, under the base scenario with no improvements in FP, education and economic variables, however unrealistic, the number of children per Beninese woman would be the same in 2030 as it was in 2015 – about 4.5 children per woman. Benin’s age structure would remain very young and be dominated by dependents. But, FP–scenarios of improvements in contraceptive variables alone showed a negative and linear relationship between FP use and maternal and ch...

High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin Republic despite recent improvements. Numerous women and newborns continue to suffer preventable deaths. Although factors associated with the attendance of at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit are well documented, there is little evidence on factors related to compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommended four ANC visits. The present study determined the extent to which reproductive age mothers received the ANC check-ups at a health facility focussing on the WHO-recommended regimen. We examined factors related to ANC services utilisation patterns amongst 8701 women recruited in the 2011/2012 Benin Demographic and Health Survey data using multinomial logistic regression. The percentage of mothers with full ANC attendance was 59.56%, 27.61% received less than 4 visits and 12.84% had never attended ANC services. Results showed that out of 13 variables assessed, only the place of residence was not associated with ANC seeking. Amongst significant variables, household wealth index, female education and desire for pregnancy were the most important factors related to ANC services seeking, especially for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC visits. The relative risk ratio of ANC attendance, for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC regimens was high amongst mothers from economically well-off households (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] for richest women = 10.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.16-18.33), educated women (aRRR for primary level = 4.34, 95% CI: 3.00-6.27) and those with desired pregnancies (aRRR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.58-4.48). To achieve WHO-recommended minimum four ANC visits in Benin Republic, our findings suggest the need to financially support the most economically disadvantaged pregnant women and their families during pregnancy, advocate for reducing unmet needs for family planning, strengthen girls' education, especially by maintaining them in school till completion of at least the secondary school.

Background: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin republic. Rates of decline are slow and factors influencing PNC services utilization are not well known. This study aims to assess factors associated with PNC services utilization among mothers and their newborns with special focus on the recommendation 2 of WHO
guidelines on postnatal care of the mother and the newborn.

Methods: This study analysed Benin’s 2011/2012 DHS data. A total of 16,599 women were interviewed where 8,275
eligible for the present study. Multinomial logistic regression was applied.

Results: While 68.42% of mothers and their newborns received at least one PNC visit over postnatal period, the percent of newborns and their mothers with appropriate first PNC check-up was low, 19.95%. Factors explaining PNC uptake were place of residence, ethnic group, occupation, ANC attendance, place of delivery, baby birth size, household wealth status, mass media use, and to a lesser extent education attainment. Accessibility, number of living children followed by the birth order number, and desire for pregnancy appeared to be specific determinants to appropriate first PNC check-up. Mothers who attended more frequently ANC services were more likely to receive
PNC check-ups. Mothers who delivered at private health facility were more likely to receive PNC check-ups.

Conclusions: To increase the achievement of the recommended WHO PNC frequency, there is a need to: address unmet needs for Family Planning in Benin; to expend health education and counselling to encourage ANC attendance
supervise by skilled personnel.

Key words: Appropriate first PNC, Benin, Mother and newborn care, Postnatal care, WHO recommended PNC

Background: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin Republic despite recent improvements. Numerous women and newborns continue to suffer preventable deaths. Although factors associated with the attendance of at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit are well documented, there is little evidence on factors related to compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommended four ANC visits. The present study determined the extent to which reproductive age mothers received the ANC check-ups at a health facility focussing on the WHO-recommended regimen.

Methods: We examined factors related to ANC services utilisation patterns amongst 8701 women recruited in the 2011/2012 Benin Demographic and Health Survey data using multinomial logistic regression. Results: The percentage of mothers with full ANC attendance was 59.56%, 27.61% received less than 4 visits and 12.84% had never attended ANC services.

Results showed that out of 13 variables assessed, only the place of residence was not associated with ANC seeking. Amongst signi cant variables, household wealth index, female education and desire for pregnancy were the most important factors related to ANC services seeking, especially for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC visits. The relative risk ratio of ANC attendance, for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC regimens was high amongst mothers from economically well-off households (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] for richest women = 10.6, 95% con dence interval [CI]: 6.16–18.33), educated women (aRRR for primary level = 4.34, 95% CI: 3.00–6.27) and those with desired pregnancies (aRRR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.58–4.48).

Conclusion: To achieve WHO-recommended minimum four ANC visits in Benin Republic, our  ndings suggest the need to  nancially support the most economically disadvantaged pregnant women and their families during pregnancy, advocate for reducing unmet needs for family planning, strengthen girls’ education, especially by maintaining them in school till completion of at least the secondary school.

Key words: Antenatal care, Benin Republic, DHS, World Health Organization recommended ANC visits