With the current high maternal mortality rates prevailing in
Zambia, it is imperative to analyze the effect that the economic
status of women has on maternal health outcomes. It is
hypothesized that wealth is positively linked to better health
outcomes. As a result, maternal health outcomes will improve
when the economic status of women improve. Using data for
women from the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health
Survey, bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to ascertain
the impact of wealth as a proxy for economic status and other
variables based on five independent outcomes (Number of
antenatal care visits, timing of first antenatal care visit, tetanus
toxoid vaccination, iron tablet/syrup uptake, and place of
delivery) and a composite measure of maternal health. The
results revealed that women’s wealth and region were the only
significant factor associated with all the five independent
indicators and the composite measure of maternal health.
However, for the composite measure, literacy and age of the
mother were also found to be associated with maternal health.
The study therefore concluded that economic status is an
important factor in improving maternal health outcomes in
Zambia. As a result, policy should be aimed at providing
support to women within the lowest wealth quintiles so as to
enable them access maternal health services.