Rachael Gakii Murithi
Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, China
Publications
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Research Article
Adolescent Birth Rates and Female Education Drive Maternal Mortality Disparities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Author(s): Rachael Gakii Murithi*, Beiran Qian and Kun Tang
Background: Maternal mortality remains disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), underscoring the urgent need to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) systems. This study examines the association between key PHC dimensions—reproductive health services, women's empowerment, and socioeconomic factors—and maternal mortality outcomes across 75 LMICs. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design with Gender Inequality Index (GII) data, we analyzed maternal mortality ratios in relation to adolescent birth rates, female secondary education, parliamentary representation, and labor force participation. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and comparative visualization across five geographic regions. Results: Maternal mortality was significantly high.. Read More»