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Background Open defecation (OD) remains an important public health challenge in Haiti. The practice poses a significantly high risk of disease transmission. Considering these negative health consequences, this paper aims to identify socio-economic and demographic factors that influence OD practice among households in Haiti. Methods The study used secondary data from 13,405 households from the Haiti Demographic and Health Survey 2016-2017. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to find the preliminary results. Further, multivariate analysis was performed to confirm the findings. Results Around one quarter (25.3%) of Haitian households still defecate in the open, almost 10% in urban areas, and nearly 36% in rural areas. Multivariate analysis revealed that the age and sex of the household head, household size, number of children aged 1-14 years old in the household, education level, wealth index, access to mass media, place of residence, and region were significant predictors of OD practice among households in Haiti. Conclusion To accelerate the elimination of OD by 2030 and therefore achieve sustainable open defecation-free status, the government of Haiti and its partners should consider wealth disparities among regions and mobilize mass media and community-based networks to raise awareness and promote education about sane sanitation practices. Furthermore, because the possibilities to build toilets differ between rural and urban areas, specific interventions must be spearheaded for each of these regions. The public program can subsidize individual toilets in rural areas with room to collect dry excreta for the preparation of fertilizers, while in urban areas collective toilets can be built in slums. Interventions should also prioritize households headed by women and young people, two underpriviledged socioeconomic groups in Haiti.

Introduction In Haiti, childhood diarrhea is one of the leading causes of serious illness and death among children. Factors associated with medical treatment-seeking behaviours for diarrhea illnesses are poorly documented even though diarrhea treatment is key to reduce diarrhea-related child morbidity and mortality. To fill this gap, this study aimed to determine prevalence and identify factors associated with medical treatment-seeking behaviour for childhood diarrhea among Haitian mothers. Methods The study was based on secondary data, collected from the fifth round of the Haitian Demographic and Health Survey (HDHS 2016–2017). Medical treatment-seeking behaviour for childhood diarrhea was the outcome variable. Various demographic and socio-economic variables were considered as explanatory variables. Descriptive statistics (univariate and bivariate percentage distribution, Pearson’s Chi-square test) and multilevel logistic regression were employed to draw inferences from the data. Results 1,245 children constituted our study population. The prevalence of children who suffered from diarrhea and received treatment (either oral rehydration solution (ORS) or recommended home fluids (RHF)) within two weeks period before the survey was 42.9% (95% CI 40.2–45.6). The results also revealed that children from the “Aire Métropolitaine de Port-au-Prince” region (Ref.), aged 12–23 months (aOR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.26–2.55), whose mothers were aged 35 and above (aOR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.15–2.67), whose mothers had secondary and higher levels (aOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02–2.60), whose mothers were in a union (aOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.23–3.85), whose mothers did not consider the distance to the health facility a big problem (aOR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.01–1.84), and children from communities with high access to improved toilet facilities (Ref.) were significantly more likely to receive diarrhea treatment. Conclusion To increase the uptake of diarrhea treatment in Haiti, policymakers and stakeholders must give due consideration to those factors. They should educate the population on the causes of childhood diarrhea, its consequences, and the importance of ORS and RHF. The socio-economic vulnerability of some Haitian communities, especially those with low access to improved toilet facilities, could be a major barrier to the use of diarrhea treatments. Consequently, the Haitian government needs to subsidize these products so that they are freely available in public health facilities and pharmacies in these communities.

Introduction In the Latin America and Caribbean region, Haiti is one of the countries with the highest rates of HIV. Therefore, this study examined the factors associated with HIV testing among women in Haiti and trends in HIV testing in 2006, 2012, and 2016/17. Methods Data from the last three Haitian Demographic and Health Surveys (2006, 2012, and 2016/17) were used. The analysis was restricted to women aged of 15–49 years who made their sexual debut. STATA/SE 16.0 was employed to analyze the data by computing descriptive statistics, Chi‑square, and multilevel regression model to describe the trends and identify factors associated with HIV testing in Haiti. P -value less than 0.05 was taken as a significant association. Results HIV testing prevalence increased more than twofold from 2006 (8.8%) to 2017 (21.3%); however, it decreased by 11.6% between 2012 and 2016/17. Additionally, the results indicated that age, place of residence, region, education level, wealth index, mass media exposure, marital status, health insurance, age at first sex and number of sexual partners were significantly associated with HIV testing. Conclusions To significantly increase HIV testing prevalence among women, the Haitian government must invest much more in their health education while targeting vulnerable groups (youth, women in union, and women with low economic status).

Introduction Although tobacco has harmful effects on the physical and mental health of individuals, its use remains significant, according to the World Health Organization. To understand this phenomenon, studies have been carried out in many countries around the world, while in Haiti where more than 5,000 people die each year due to tobacco use, little is known about the use of this substance. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and the factors associated with tobacco use in Haiti. Methods We used data from the 2016/17 Haitian Demographic Health Survey. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted using STATA 16.0 software to assess the prevalence and identify factors associated with tobacco use. Results were reported as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was declared at p  < 0.05. Results The prevalence of tobacco use was estimated at 9.8% (95% CI: 9.2–10.4) among men and 1.7% (95% CI: 1.5–1.9) among women. Although the prevalence of tobacco use was low among young people, it increased with age. Respondents aged 35 and above, with no formal education, non-Christians, divorced/separated/widowed, from poorest households, rural areas, “Aire Métropolitaine de Port-au-Prince” region, with high media exposure had a higher likelihood of tobacco use. Conclusion The low prevalence of tobacco use among Haitian women and youth represents a public policy opportunity to prevent these vulnerable groups from starting smoking. Adult male smokers should also be targeted by appropriate policy to reduce the different health burdens associated with tobacco, both for the smokers and other people they may expose to passive smoking. Government and health sector stakeholders, along with community leaders, should create and enforce awareness strategies and rules to control advertisements that encourage irresponsible and health-risky consumption behaviors.

Background Young women in Haiti remain vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. However, little is known about condom use among this population. This study examined the prevalence and the factors associated with condom use among sexually active young women in Haiti. Methods Data from the 2016/17 Haiti demographic and health survey were used. The prevalence and the factors associated with condom use among sexually active young women in Haiti were assessed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. Results The prevalence of condom use was 15.4% (95% CI 14.0–16.8). Being teenage (AOR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.04–1.74), living in urban areas (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.04–1.90), having higher education level (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.44–4.00), being in the middle or rich category of household wealth index (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.53–3.53 and AOR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.90–4.52), having correct knowledge of ovulatory cycle (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.30–2.10), having 2–3 lifetime sexual partners and one lifetime sexual partner (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.36–3.06 and AOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.35–3.17) had significantly higher odds of using condom. In addition, sexually active young women whose last partner was their boyfriend (AOR = 4.38; 95% CI: 2.82–6.81), and those whose last partner was a friend/casual acquaintance/commercial sex worker (AOR = 5.29; 95% CI: 2.18–12.85) were associated with increased likelihood of using condom compared with their counterparts whose partner was their spouse. Conclusion The Haitian government as well as institutions involved in sexual health should consider these factors when designing sexual and reproductive health interventions targeting young women. More specifically, to increase condom use and reduce risky sexual behaviors, they should combine efforts to raise awareness and induce sexual behavioral changes at two levels. In the education system, they should reinforce sexual education in primary and secondary schools while paying special attention to rural areas. In the whole society, it is important to deepen efforts toward increased awareness on family planning and condom use, through mass media and local organizations including religious ones. Priority should be given to the poorer households, young people and women, and rural areas, in order to maximize reduction in early and unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Interventions should include a condom price subsidy and a campaign to destigmatize condom use which is actually a “male affair”.

ObjectiveThis study estimated the proportion of children aged 12–23 months who were fully vaccinated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), explored geographical disparities across subregions and countries, and identified country-level factors associated with full vaccination (FV).DesignCross-sectional study.SettingSSA.ParticipantsChildren aged 12–23 months.Primary outcomeFV.MethodsData for this study were extracted from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 34 SSA countries between 2012 and 2023. The study included a total weighted sample of 69 218 children. Univariate analyses were performed to describe the socio-demographic profile of the participants and estimate the proportion of FV and the proportion for each of the eight vaccines (BCG, DTP1, DTP2, DPT3, Polio1, Polio2, Polio3, Measles1) at regional level. Bivariate and spatial analyses were produced to examine existing disparities at regional, subregional and countries’ income levels. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was fitted for identifying country-level factors associated with FV.Results54.1% (95% CI 53.7% to 54.5%) children aged 12–23 months in SSA were fully vaccinated. In addition, substantial inequalities emerged in FV coverage across countries ranging from 23.9% in Guinea to a high of 95.5% in Rwanda. The same pattern was observed for the eight vaccines. Findings also showed that children of birth order 3 and above, who were delivered at home, had received less than four antenatal visits, from poor households and households with more than 5 members, whose mothers were under 25, had primary education level and below, and had no income-generating activities were less likely to be fully vaccinated.ConclusionTo achieve WHO’s global vaccination coverage target of 90% by 2030 in SSA, vaccination programmes must take account of regional, subregional and national inequities. Our findings also underline the need for interventions tailored to each SSA country’s socio-cultural context.Ethical considerationEthical approval was not required as this is a secondary analysis of publicly available data.

Abstract Background Open defecation (OD) remains an important public health challenge in Haiti. The practice poses a significantly high risk of disease transmission. Considering these negative health consequences, this paper aims to identify socio-economic and demographic factors that influence OD practice among households in Haiti. Methods The study used secondary data from 13,405 households from the Haiti Demographic and Health Survey 2016-2017. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to find the preliminary results. Further, multivariate analysis was performed to confirm the findings. Results Around one quarter (25.3%) of Haitian households still defecate in the open, almost 10% in urban areas, and nearly 36% in rural areas. Multivariate analysis revealed that the age and sex of the household head, household size, number of children aged 1-14 years old in the household, education level, wealth index, access to mass media, place of residence, and region were significant predictors of OD practice among households in Haiti. Conclusion To accelerate the elimination of OD by 2030 and therefore achieve sustainable open defecation-free status, the government of Haiti and its partners should consider wealth disparities among regions and mobilize mass media and community-based networks to raise awareness and promote education about sane sanitation practices. Furthermore, because the possibilities to build toilets differ between rural and urban areas, specific interventions must be spearheaded for each of these regions. The public program can subsidize individual toilets in rural areas with room to collect dry excreta for the preparation of fertilizers, while in urban areas collective toilets can be built in slums. Interventions should also prioritize households headed by women and young people, two underpriviledged socioeconomic groups in Haiti.

Unprotected sexual intercourse places young women in multiple partnerships at great risk for sexually transmitted infections in Haiti. While the most effective means of preventing these infections is consistent condom use, little is known about the factors that influence its use. This study sought to analyze high-risk sexual behavior among young Haitian women with multiple sex partners and to identify and understand factors that influence condom use among these young women. Data were drawn from the 2017 Haiti Demographic and Health survey. Explanatory analysis was used to test for associations between condom use and the selected sociodemographic factors using Pearson’s chi square test. Then, multiple logistic regression was fitted to the data to assess the effects of sociodemographic characteristics of young women in multiple partnerships on condom use. The study revealed significant differences between sociodemographic factors and condom use among young women in multiple partnerships. A young woman’s age, age at sexual debut, level of education, marital status, and household wealth predicted condom use. The paper highlights the importance of reinforcing sexuality education among young women in Haiti.

Physical abuse during pregnancy has been linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of intimate partner physical violence (physical IPV) during pregnancy in Kenya and assess its associated sociodemographic factors. Secondary data analysis was performed on cross-sectional Kenya Demographic and Health Survey data conducted in 2014. The sample size for this study was 3193 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) who completed the domestic violence module, after excluding missing values and applying the weight factor. Descriptive analysis was carried out and a ReLogit model was used to assess the relationship between physical IPV during pregnancy and sociodemographic characteristics. About six percent of women reported physical IPV during pregnancy. The study finds that the probability of physical IPV during pregnancy is higher among young women aged < 25 years (ME = 0.035; 95% CI 0.0124–0.0631) with a primary education level (ME = 0.011; 95% CI 0.0005–0.0218) who have five children or more (ME = 0.048, 95% CI 0.0271–0.0739) and whose partner was an alcoholic (ME = 0.064, 95% CI 0.0457–0.0847) and/or exhibited coercive control (ME = 0.037, 95% CI 0.0241–0.0512). Even though quantitative research is crucial in determining factors that influence physical IPV during pregnancy, there is a need for qualitative inquiries into women’s experiences of physical IPV as well as related negative pregnancy outcomes in Kenya.