Publication

Ethnic group inequalities in coverage with reproductive, maternal and child health interventions: cross-sectional analyses of national surveys in 16 Latin America and Caribbean countries

Authored by:

Mesenburg MA, Restrepo-Mendez MC, Amigo H et al.

Full Citation:

Mesenburg MA, Restrepo-Mendez MC, Amigo H et al. 2018. Ethnic group inequalities in coverage with reproductive, maternal and child health interventions: cross-sectional analyses of national surveys in 16 Latin America and Caribbean countries. Lancet Global Health. 6(8).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Inequities exist in marginalized populations and minority groups who may have poorer access to health services, including immunizations.

Key Evidence: An analysis of survey data in Latin America and Caribbean countries found that DPT3 coverage rates among indigenous children were significantly lower than in children of European or mixed ethnicity in three out of 14 countries, while significant inequities between these groups in coverage of maternal health services, such as antenatal care and delivery by a skilled birth attendant, existed in most of the countries. The greater equity in access to childhood vaccination by ethnic group may be because vaccinations are often delivered in the communities through immunization campaigns, whereas maternal health services require accessing health facilities, which may incur user fees and transportation costs.