The use of various forms of contraception in Ghana gained prominence after the government resorted to investing more in family planning programs when maternal mortality was declared an emergency in the country. In Ghana, the intention to use and actual usage of contraceptives is influenced by many factors, which may lead to non-usage or discontinuation. This quantitative study was conducted to determine risk and protective factors impacting on the intention and usage of contraceptives. Survey data from the Ghana 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (n = 9396) was used. A sub-sample of 7661 women in their reproductive age were included in this study, who reported being sexually active within the last year. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the association between a broad range of risk and protective factors including religion, early sexual intercourse, frequency of sex, number of lifetime sexual partners with intention to use contraception. We controlled for income, educational attainment, and age. Overall (n = 3661; 47.8%) reported no intention of contraception use. Logistic regression analysis revealed that no formal education (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.29–1.72; p < 0.001), and primary school as highest educational level (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.04–1.25; p < 0.001), Islamic religion (OR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.90; p < 0.001), not currently employed (OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.34–1.69; p < 0.001), husband opposing contraception use (OR = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.42–3.46; p < 0.001), and currently pregnant (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09–1.54; p < 0.001) were also positively associated with no intention of use. Engaging religious leaders for advocacy in the community was identified as an approach to address barriers and increase awareness on contraceptive use. Targeted family planning programs should intensify public education on safe sex behaviors.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over two-thirds of deaths worldwide, and global efforts to address NCDs have accelerated. Current prevention and control efforts rely primarily on individual behavior/lifestyle approaches that place the onus of responsibility for health on the individual. These approaches, however, have not stopped the increasing trend of NCDs worldwide. Thus, there is urgent need for exploring alternative approaches in order to attain the aim of reducing global premature NCDs mortality by 25% by 2025, and meeting the NCD reduction objective in the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussion: We suggest the need for a structural approach to addressing the NCDs epidemic that integrates social science and public health theories. We evaluate two overarching principles (empowerment and human rights) and three social determinants of health (labor and employment, trade and industry, and macroeconomics) addressed in the 2013 Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs to demonstrate how a structural approach to NCDs can be incorporated into existing NCD interventions. For each area considered, theoretical considerations for structural thinking are provided and conclude with recommended actions. Conclusion: Achieving the global health agenda goals of reducing NCDs mortality will require a shift to a paradigm that embraces concerted efforts to address both behavioral/lifestyle factors and structural dimensions of NCDs.

Background: The tobacco industry has globalized and tobacco use continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, the data and research to inform policy initiatives for addressing this phenomenon is sparse. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of adult tobacco use in 17 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, and to identify key factors associated with adult tobacco consumption choices (smoked, smokeless tobacco and dual use) in Madagascar. Methods. We used Demographic Health Survey for estimating tobacco use prevalence among adults in SSA. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify key determinants of adult tobacco consumption choices in Madagascar. Results: While differences in tobacco use exist in SSA, Madagascar has exceptionally higher prevalence rates (48.9% of males; 10.3% of females). The regression analyses showed complexity of tobacco use in Madagascar and identified age, education, wealth, employment, marriage, religion and place of residence as factors significantly associated with the choice of tobacco use among males, while age, wealth, and employment were significantly associated with that of females. The effects, however, differ across the three choices of tobacco use compared to non-use. Conclusions: Tobacco use in Madagascar was higher than the other 16 SSA countries. Although the government continues to enact policies to address the problem, there is a need for effective implementation and enforcement. There is also the need for health education to modify social norms and denormalize tobacco use.

Background: Rates of physical disability are higher in women than in men, and economically disadvantaged women are at greater risk for physical disability than women with higher incomes. Chronic diseases increase the risk of physical disability, and people with physical disability experience some added risks of secondary conditions including chronic disease. Yet, little is known about the prevalence of chronic disease among women living with a physical disability who use Medicaid, a particularly disadvantaged population. Objective: This study described the prevalence of chronic disease among adult (18-64 years), female, Florida Medicaid beneficiaries living with a physical disability between 2001 and 2005. Methods: Using Medicaid eligibility and claims files, we extracted ICD-9 codes for physically-disabling conditions and Current Procedure Terminology codes for mobility-assistive devices to define three levels of physical disability. Results: Participants appeared to be at high risk for both physical disability and chronic diseases. Close to half of the women had been diagnosed with one or more physically-disabling conditions, and 5.3% used mobility devices. One-third of the women had hypertension and sizeable proportions had other chronic diseases. Women with physical disability were more likely to have co-morbid chronic diseases than their able-bodied counterparts. Discussion: Our findings support the need for improved chronic disease prevention among female Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly those with physical disability. Strategies to improve prevention, screening and treatment in this population may mitigate the trends toward higher physical disability rates in the low-income, working-age population and may prevent high Medicare and Medicaid costs in the long-run.

Objectives: To examine associations between maternal smoking and overweight among school-aged children and also identify mothers and offspring characteristics that affect children's weight. Methods: We used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCY). Childhood overweight was defined as having Body Mass Index (BMI) of 85th percentile or above. Smoking patterns among mothers were assessed by questioning smoking behaviour 1 year before birth of the target child: never or ever smoking. Standardized procedures were used to measure height and weight. Descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used for the analysis. Results: Descriptive results showed that children of mothers who smoked anytime within 1 year before birth were more likely to be overweight and have higher BMI percentile averages. GEE results showed that children of mothers who were ever smokers 1 year before birth were more likely to be overweight (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.94) and have higher BMI percentile averages (b = 4.46, P = 0.036) from grades 1 through 6 than those of mothers who were never smokers. Additionally, the level of mother's education and birth weight were significantly associated with childhood overweight. Conclusions: Confirmed relationships between maternal smoking and overweight among school-aged children have important implications for public health policy because this evidence can be used to enhance smoking cessation 1 year before birth to improve the health status of mothers and offspring.

Background: The tobacco industry has globalized and tobacco use continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, the data and research to inform policy initiatives for addressing this phenomenon is sparse. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of adult tobacco use in 17 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, and to identify key factors associated with adult tobacco consumption choices (smoked, smokeless tobacco and dual use) in Madagascar. Methods. We used Demographic Health Survey for estimating tobacco use prevalence among adults in SSA. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify key determinants of adult tobacco consumption choices in Madagascar. Results: While differences in tobacco use exist in SSA, Madagascar has exceptionally higher prevalence rates (48.9% of males; 10.3% of females). The regression analyses showed complexity of tobacco use in Madagascar and identified age, education, wealth, employment, marriage, religion and place of residence as factors significantly associated with the choice of tobacco use among males, while age, wealth, and employment were significantly associated with that of females. The effects, however, differ across the three choices of tobacco use compared to non-use. Conclusions: Tobacco use in Madagascar was higher than the other 16 SSA countries. Although the government continues to enact policies to address the problem, there is a need for effective implementation and enforcement. There is also the need for health education to modify social norms and denormalize tobacco use.

Background: Rates of physical disability are higher in women than in men, and economically disadvantaged women are at greater risk for physical disability than women with higher incomes. Chronic diseases increase the risk of physical disability, and people with physical disability experience some added risks of secondary conditions including chronic disease. Yet, little is known about the prevalence of chronic disease among women living with a physical disability who use Medicaid, a particularly disadvantaged population. Objective: This study described the prevalence of chronic disease among adult (18-64 years), female, Florida Medicaid beneficiaries living with a physical disability between 2001 and 2005. Methods: Using Medicaid eligibility and claims files, we extracted ICD-9 codes for physically-disabling conditions and Current Procedure Terminology codes for mobility-assistive devices to define three levels of physical disability. Results: Participants appeared to be at high risk for both physical disability and chronic diseases. Close to half of the women had been diagnosed with one or more physically-disabling conditions, and 5.3% used mobility devices. One-third of the women had hypertension and sizeable proportions had other chronic diseases. Women with physical disability were more likely to have co-morbid chronic diseases than their able-bodied counterparts. Discussion: Our findings support the need for improved chronic disease prevention among female Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly those with physical disability. Strategies to improve prevention, screening and treatment in this population may mitigate the trends toward higher physical disability rates in the low-income, working-age population and may prevent high Medicare and Medicaid costs in the long-run.

Objectives: To examine associations between maternal smoking and overweight among school-aged children and also identify mothers and offspring characteristics that affect children's weight. Methods: We used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCY). Childhood overweight was defined as having Body Mass Index (BMI) of 85th percentile or above. Smoking patterns among mothers were assessed by questioning smoking behaviour 1 year before birth of the target child: never or ever smoking. Standardized procedures were used to measure height and weight. Descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used for the analysis. Results: Descriptive results showed that children of mothers who smoked anytime within 1 year before birth were more likely to be overweight and have higher BMI percentile averages. GEE results showed that children of mothers who were ever smokers 1 year before birth were more likely to be overweight (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.94) and have higher BMI percentile averages (b = 4.46, P = 0.036) from grades 1 through 6 than those of mothers who were never smokers. Additionally, the level of mother's education and birth weight were significantly associated with childhood overweight. Conclusions: Confirmed relationships between maternal smoking and overweight among school-aged children have important implications for public health policy because this evidence can be used to enhance smoking cessation 1 year before birth to improve the health status of mothers and offspring.

Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Objective: The role of local health departments (LHDs) as a clinical service provider remains a salient topic of discussion. As local and state health departments continue to migrate away from clinical services, there is need to understand the impact on these transitions on access to care in a given community. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of clinical capacity reductions in LHDs on receipt of annual family planning visits among South Carolina women. Design: A rolling panel of women eligible for Medicaid between 2001 and 2012 was created. Receipt of an annual visit for each year of Medicaid eligibility was tracked over time. A typology reflecting changes in county capacity for clinical services was used as the independent variable. We estimated multivariate generalized estimating equation models, which examined changes in population-averaged probabilities (marginal means) of annual family planning visits over time by level of county typology. Results: Approximately 325 269 unduplicated women were included in the panel, with 25.18% receiving an annual visit in a given year. On average, receipt of annual visits in counties with notable reductions in LHD clinical capacity tended to be fewer over time (-0.022; 95% CI [confidence interval],-0.028 to-0.017) as among counties with reduced capacity that included a specific clinic closing (-0.032; 95% CI,-0.037 to-0.028). However, the magnitude of observed differences between county typologies was relatively small. Conclusions: Evidence of service discontinuity was present. However, differences occurred later in the study period following the economic recession. Our findings suggest that counties that reduced capacity did not lose ground but were unable to meet increasing demand from the economic recession relative to those that did not reduce capacity even when closing a clinic. As LHDs discontinue or significantly reduced clinical services, fulfilling the assurance role is important for transitioning women to other sources of care.

This study examined the intersection of rurality and community area deprivation using a nine-state sample of inpatient hospitalizations among children (<18 years of age) from 2011. One state from each of the nine US census regions with substantial rural representation and varying degrees of community vulnerability was selected. An area deprivation index was constructed and used in conjunction with rurality to examine differences in the rate of ACSC hospitalizations among children in the sample states. A mixed model with both fixed and random effects was used to test influence of rurality and area deprivation on the odds of a pediatric hospitalization due to an ACSC within the sample. Of primary interest was the interaction of rurality and area deprivation. The study found rural counties are disproportionality represented among the most deprived. Within the least deprived counties, the likelihood of an ACSC hospitalization was significantly lower in rural than among their urban counterparts. However, this rural advantage declines as the level of deprivation increases, suggesting the effect of rurality becomes more important as social and economic advantage deteriorates. We also found ACSC hospitalization to be much higher among racial/ethnic minority children and those with Medicaid or self-pay as an anticipated source of payment. These findings further contribute to the existing body of evidence documenting racial/ethnic disparities in important health related outcomes.