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This study assessed the impact of safety nets on food insecurity in households with people with disabilities (PWD) in Nigeria. Using data from the 2019 Nigeria General Household Survey, we assessed the risk of experiencing food insecurity among households and the moderating role of safety nets using households without PWDs as a reference. PWD households were three times more likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to households without PWDs. The impact of the safety net program on the risk of food insecurity showed that receiving social benefits had little effect among households with disabled members experiencing severe food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) points to the underlying risk and burden of infectious diseases (IDs) in this population. The objective of this study was to examine the risk of ID-related emergency department (ED) visits, subsequent hospitalizations, and hospital-based mortality during ID-related visits among adults with IDD compared to those without IDD. The authors conducted a retrospective study using data from the 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. The sample included 94,928 adults with IDD identified using ICD-10-CM codes, and age- and sex-matched 284,763 non-IDD adults in a 1:3 case-control ratio. A Poisson regression model was used to compare the risk of ID-related ED visits, subsequent hospitalizations, and hospital-based mortality during ID-related visits between adults with and without IDD. Covariates included sociodemographic and hospital characteristics. Results showed that adults with IDD are at a higher risk for ID-related ED visits, subsequent hospitalization, and mortality during ID-related ED visits compared to non-IDD adults. Adults with IDD continued to experience higher risks even after accounting for sociodemographic, hospital, and clinical characteristics. Septicemia and respiratory tract infections are the leading causes of ED visits, hospitalization, and mortality. This study found substantial disparities in ID-related ED visits, subsequent hospitalization, and mortality among the burdens for adults with IDD. These observations underscore the importance of integrated strategies to reduce ID-related morbidity among adults with IDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV testing and counselling during antenatal care (ANC) is critical for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. We investigated disparity in utilization of HIV testing and counselling services (HTC) between women with and without disabilities in Uganda.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the nationally representative 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. The study sampled 10,073 women between age 15-49 who had a live birth in the last 5 years. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio for receiving pre-test HIV counselling, obtaining an HIV test result, and post-test HIV counselling by disability status using logistic regressions.Results: We found that women with disabilities were less likely to receive pre-test HIV counselling (59.6 vs 52.4), obtain an HIV test result (68.2 vs 61.4), receive post-test HIV counselling (55.5 vs 51.6), and all HTC services (49.2 vs 43.5). From the regression analysis, women with disabilities were less likely to receive pre-test counselling [AOR = 0.83; CI = 0.74, 0.93] and obtain an HIV test result [AOR = 0.88; CI = 0.78, 0.99].Conclusions: Our findings revealed that women with disabilities are less likely to receive HTC service during ANC and highlighted the need for disability-inclusive HIV and reproductive health services. Government, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders should consider funding inclusive campaigns and identifying other mechanisms for disseminating health information and behavioral interventions to women with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research on the association between maternal HIV status and child mortality in sub–Saharan Africa was published between 2005–2011. Findings from these studies showed a higher child mortality risk among children born to HIV–positive mothers. While the population of women with disabilities is growing in developing countries, we found no research that examined the association between maternal disability in HIV–positive mothers, and child mortality in sub–Saharan Africa. This study examined the potential compounding effect of maternal disability and HIV status on child mortality in South Africa. Methods: We analyzed data for women age 15–49 years from South Africa, using the nationally representative 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios of child mortality indicators by maternal disability and maternal HIV using modified Poisson regressions. Results: Children born to disabled mothers compared to their peers born to non-disabled mothers were at a higher risk for neonatal mortality (RR = 1.80, 95% CI:1.31–2.49), infant mortality (RR = 1.69, 95% CI:1.19–2.41), and under-five mortality (RR = 1.78, 95% CI:1.05–3.01). The joint risk of maternal disability and HIV-positive status on the selected child mortality indicators is compounded such that it is more than the sum of the risks from maternal disability or maternal HIV-positive status alone (RR = 3.97 vs. joint RR = 3.67 for neonatal mortality; RR = 3.57 vs. joint RR = 3.25 for infant mortality; RR = 6.44 vs. joint RR = 3.75 for under-five mortality). Conclusions: The findings suggest that children born to HIV-positive women with disabilities are at an exceptionally high risk of premature mortality. Established inequalities faced by women with disabilities may account for this increased risk. Given that maternal HIV and disability amplify each other's impact on child mortality, addressing disabled women's HIV-related needs and understanding the pathways and mechanisms contributing to these disparities is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Objective: Emerging studies suggest that people with disabilities are at a higher risk for HIV. However, less is known about impact of maternal disability and HIV on child mortality. We aimed to examine the potential compounding effect of maternal disability and HIV status on child mortality in South Africa. Study Design: We analyzed data for women age 15–49 years from South Africa, using the nationally representative 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios of child mortality indicators by maternal disability and maternal HIV using modified Poisson regressions. Population Studied: Mothers without disabilities who were HIV–negative were used as referent, and we analyzed cohorts of (1) mothers with disabilities who are HIV–negative, (2) mothers without disabilities who are HIV–positive, and (3) mothers with disabilities who are HIV–positive. Principal Findings: Children born to disabled mothers compared to their peers born to non–disabled mothers were at a higher risk for neonatal mortality (RR = 1·80, 95%CI:1·31–2·49), infant mortality (RR = 1·69, 95%CI:1·19–2·41), and under–five mortality (RR = 1·78, 95%CI:1·05–3·01). The joint risk of maternal disability and HIV–positive status on the selected child mortality indicators is compounded such that it is more than the sum of the risks from maternal disability or maternal HIV–positive status alone (RR = 3·97 vs. joint RR = 3·67 for neonatal mortality, RR = 3·57 vs. joint RR = 3·25 for infant mortality, and RR = 6·44 vs. joint RR = 3·75 for under–five mortality). Conclusions: The findings suggest that children born to HIV–positive women with disabilities are at an exceptionally high risk of premature mortality. Given that maternal HIV and disability amplify each other's impact on child mortality, addressing disabled women's HIV–related needs and understanding the pathways and mechanisms contributing to these disparities is crucial. Implications for Policy or Practice: These findings emphasize that it is critical for policymakers, donor agencies, and non–governmental organizations to consider the intersection of disability and HIV in developing policy and practice in the context of achieving targets of reducing child mortality under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South. Primary Funding Source: Cardno Emerging Markets, USA, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Objective: Emerging studies suggest that people with disabilities are at a higher risk for HIV. However, less is known about impact of maternal disability and HIV on child mortality. We aimed to examine the potential compounding effect of maternal disability and HIV status on child mortality in South Africa. Study Design: We analyzed data for women age 15–49 years from South Africa, using the nationally representative 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios of child mortality indicators by maternal disability and maternal HIV using modified Poisson regressions. Population Studied: Mothers without disabilities who were HIV–negative were used as referent, and we analyzed cohorts of (1) mothers with disabilities who are HIV–negative, (2) mothers without disabilities who are HIV–positive, and (3) mothers with disabilities who are HIV–positive. Principal Findings: Children born to disabled mothers compared to their peers born to non–disabled mothers were at a higher risk for neonatal mortality (RR = 1·80, 95%CI:1·31–2·49), infant mortality (RR = 1·69, 95%CI:1·19–2·41), and under–five mortality (RR = 1·78, 95%CI:1·05–3·01). The joint risk of maternal disability and HIV–positive status on the selected child mortality indicators is compounded such that it is more than the sum of the risks from maternal disability or maternal HIV–positive status alone (RR = 3·97 vs. joint RR = 3·67 for neonatal mortality, RR = 3·57 vs. joint RR = 3·25 for infant mortality, and RR = 6·44 vs. joint RR = 3·75 for under–five mortality). Conclusions: The findings suggest that children born to HIV–positive women with disabilities are at an exceptionally high risk of premature mortality. Given that maternal HIV and disability amplify each other's impact on child mortality, addressing disabled women's HIV–related needs and understanding the pathways and mechanisms contributing to these disparities is crucial. Implications for Policy or Practice: These findings emphasize that it is critical for policymakers, donor agencies, and non–governmental organizations to consider the intersection of disability and HIV in developing policy and practice in the context of achieving targets of reducing child mortality under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South. Primary Funding Source: Cardno Emerging Markets, USA, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]