Abstract:
Pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities
in Ethiopia continue to face persistent and
interrelated challenges in accessing essential
primary health care services. Geographic
isolation and seasonal mobility disrupt
continuity of primary health care and limit
regular contact with health facilities, while low
health literacy, language barriers, and deeply
rooted cultural norms influence care-seeking
behaviors, particularly for reproductive,
maternal, newborn, child, and nutrition
(RMNCH-N) services(1,2). These challenges are
further compounded by recurrent crises such
as flooding and disease outbreaks, as well as
chronic shortages of supplies, staffing gaps,
and inadequate infrastructure at frontline
health posts(3). Collectively, these factors
contribute to low utilization of RMNCH-N
services and widen equity gaps within the
national health system(3).
