Socio-economic Determinants in the Utilization of Maternal Health Care in India: Exploring National Level Data
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i3.1390Keywords:
Ante-natal care, Post-natalcare, Maternal health, Place of deliveryAbstract
Introduction: The maternal health generally refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and
postpartum period. Utilization of maternal health care services has been recognized as a significant factor
in influencing maternal and child mortality. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) estimate for the country
indicates an overall decline from 212 in 2007-09 to 178 per one lack live births in 2012, resulting in saving
lives of about 9,000 mothers per year 2. The aim of maternal health care services to reduce infant mortality,
maternal morbidity and mortality was recognized at the Cairo Conference on Population.
Materials and Method: This paper has utilized the data collected by the National Sample Survey
Organization (NSSO) during January -June, 2014. It is a cross sectional dataset available in public domain.
The dataset provides information on Social Consumption and Health scenario of the population. To carryout
the research, descriptive statistics, bivariate and logistic regression analysis has been used.
Findings: The study shows that place of residence, marital status, educational status and wealth index plays
an important role in determining the utilization of ante-natal care and post-natal care services. Utilization
of services from private sector increases with the increase in the level of socio-economic characteristics.
Southern and Western regions of India have 97 percent utilization of ante-natal care and more than 90
percent utilization of post-natal care services in India. Multivariate analysis also depicts close relationship
with different predictors as urban place of residence, currently married women, higher educational status
and richest wealth category.
Conclusion: Place of residence, educational status and wealth index plays an important role in determining
the utilization of maternal health care. Western and Southern regions have better utilization of maternal
health care services.
