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Abstract:
This paper examines fifteen maternal and
child health indicators using the three most
recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
conducted in Mali (2006, 2012-13, and 2018).
These indicators include antenatal care,
postnatal care, delivery in a health
facility, Caesarean section delivery,
vaccination among children, and care-seeking
for acute respiratory infection, fever, and
diarrhea for children. The analysis includes
examination of overall trends, trends by
background variables, and regressions for the
most recent survey. One main finding was the
lack of improvement in several indicators
between the 2012 and 2018 surveys, which
coincides with the conflict that began in
Mali in 2012. This was especially relevant
for antenatal care visits, vaccination, and
care-seeking for diarrhea. Large gaps in
these indicators were found in the conflict
areas, especially in Kidal and Tombouctou,
when compared to the other regions. Caesarean
section delivery remained low across all
background variables and has remained between
2-3% since 2006. This indicates a need for
more accessible emergency obstetric care for
women and increased awareness of the
importance of recognizing danger signs. There
were also some indicators that showed
improvement between the two most recent
surveys. These included delivery in a health
facility, postnatal care for the mother,
acute respiratory infection, fever care-
seeking, and all antenatal components except
for having at least two tetanus toxoid
injections, which remained unchanged. Almost
all indicators showed large disparities by
background variables, with the largest in
wealth quintile, region, and education level.
This highlights the need for services,
interventions, and increased awareness that
can reach the poorest households and least-
educated women in Mali.