Maternal and Child Health Inequalities in Ethiopia

Recent surveys show considerable
progress in maternal and child health in Ethiopia. The
improvement has been in health outcomes and health services
coverage. The study examines how different groups have fared
in this progress. It tracked 11 health outcome indicators
and health interventions related to millennium development
goals one, four, and five. These are stunting, underweight,
wasting, neonatal mortality, infant mortality, under -five
mortality, measles vaccination, and full immunization,
modern contraceptive use by currently married women,
antenatal care visits, and skilled birth attendance. Trends
in rate differences and rate ratios are analyzed. The study
also investigates the dynamics of inequalities, using
concentration curves for different years. In addition, a
decomposition analysis is conducted to identify the role of
proximate determinants. The study finds substantial
improvements in health outcomes and health services.
Although there still exists a considerable gap between the
rich and the poor, the study finds some reductions in
inequalities of health services. However, some of the
improvements in selected health outcomes appear to be pro-rich.