PROFILING MATERNAL MULTIMORBIDITY AND MATERNAL HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE (15-49 YEARS) IN SOUTH AFRICA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Langutani Nesco LN Miyambu, University of the Witwatersrand
Khuthala Mabetha
Shane Norris, University of the Witwatersrand

In 2020, nearly 800 women died globally from preventable pregnancy and childbirth causes, emphasizing the importance of maternal health-seeking behavior (1). The prevalence of chronic conditions in pregnant women increased from 25% in 2003 to 32% in 2016. South Africa's maternal and under-five mortality associated to delayed ANC is higher than in Europe and North America (2). Obesity affects 16-36% of South African pregnant women (3), while 28.3% tested positive for HIV in 2020 (4), a condition linked to low birth weight (5). In 2023, 41% of pregnant women experienced anemia (20). This study examines the prevalence of two or more chronic health conditions in South African women aged 15–49 using SADHS 2016 data. Analysis focused on women who gave birth in the previous five years. An ordinal regression model assessed the relationship between maternal multimorbidity and ANC timing. Among 2,450 women, 54.2% initiated ANC visits late. HIV-negative women [AOR: 1.397] were more likely to start ANC early than HIV-positive women, as were non-anemic women [AOR: 1.286]. Women with a history of pregnancy termination [AOR: 1.3804] also started ANC earlier. National policies like the National Health Insurance (NHI) should prioritize maternal and child health to reduce mortality rates.

Keywords: Mortality and Longevity, Health and Morbidity

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