Barriers to healthcare access among women in sub-Saharan Africa: A pooled analysis of multi-country DHS data (2019–2023)

Background: Barriers to accessing healthcare have significantly contributed to the high rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in developing regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Access to healthcare is influenced by multiple factors, including financial constraints, geographic location, the availability of services, and the quality of care provided. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of these barriers and to identify the factors influencing healthcare access among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This study utilized secondary data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2019 and 2023 across Sub-Saharan Africa. A weighted sample of 134,470 women of reproductive age was included in the analysis. Data were analyzed using Stata version 14, employing a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Factors associated with barriers to healthcare access were considered statistically significant at P-values less than 0.05. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to interpret the results. Results: In this study, the prevalence of barriers to healthcare access among women found to be 55.84% (95% CI:55.57, 56.10). Husband educational status (AOR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.30), media exposure (AOR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.24), antenatal care visit (AOR=1.31,95% CI: 1.10, 1.55), delivery place (AOR=1.33, 95% CI:1.24, 1.43), health insurance (AOR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.26), wealth index(AOR=2.29, 95% CI 2.14, 2.45), (AOR=1.57, 95CI: 1.46, 1.68) and visiting health facility within the past 12 months (AOR=0.91,95% CI:0.87, 0.97) were individual level factors associated with outcome variable. In addition, place of residence (AOR=1.30, 95% CI:1.22, 1.39), community literacy level (AOR=1.13, 95% CI:1.03, 1.24), community poverty level (AOR=1.12, 95% CI:1.02, 1.22), and Region were community level factors associated with barriers to healthcare access. Conclusion: In this study, over half of women in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant barriers to healthcare access. Educational status, media exposure, place of residence, antenatal care attendance, place of delivery, health insurance coverage, wealth index, recent visits to health facilities, community literacy levels, community wealth status, and regional differences were determinant factors. These findings highlight the need for Sub-Saharan African governments to prioritize these determinants when formulating policies and strategies aimed at reducing preventable barriers to healthcare access in the region.