2025-08-27 ワシントン大学セントルイス校
Using statistical learning to analyze a decade of data from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, the team identified key socioeconomic factors — such as maternal education and place of residence — that are strongly associated with whether mothers use available health services to avoid under-5 mortality. (Photo: Unsplash)
<関連情報>
- https://source.washu.edu/2025/08/data-science-uncovers-patterns-in-health-service-use-linked-to-child-mortality/
- https://engineering.washu.edu/news/2025/Data-science-uncovers-patterns-in-health-service-use-linked-to-child-mortality.html
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61350-8
サハラ以南アフリカにおける母子保健サービス利用パターンと関連する社会経済的格差 Patterns of maternal and child health services utilization and associated socioeconomic disparities in sub-Saharan Africa
Claire Najjuuko,Ziqi Xu,Samuel Kizito,Chenyang Lu & Fred M. Ssewamala
Nature Communications Published:22 August 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61350-8
Abstract
Under-five mortality remains a global health issue, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where preventable conditions largely drive the high mortality rates. Understanding the heterogeneity in utilization of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services is crucial for reducing under-five mortality. Here we show that among 9307 under-five mortality cases across 31 sub-Saharan African countries (2014–2024), maternal and child health service utilization falls into three distinct patterns—lowest, medium, and highest. Socioeconomic status strongly predicts subgroup membership: higher maternal education, employment, urban residence, and wealth are associated with lower odds of being in the lowest utilization group. Inequality indices further reveal disparities by education, wealth, residence, and employment. Our findings show a strong link between socioeconomic status and maternal and child health services utilization. To address under-five mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, targeted strategies are needed to improve access and uptake of essential health services among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
