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Determinants of Maternal Health Care Utilization among Ever-Married Rabari Women of Udaipur District, Rajasthan

Ayushi Sharma
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jmss.v7.n3.p6
Abstract

Background: Improving maternal health is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals. It is widely accepted that the use of maternal health services helps in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. The utilization of maternal health services is a complex phenomenon and it is influenced by several factors. Therefore, the factors at different levels affecting the use of these services need to be clearly understood. The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of individual, community and district level characteristics on the utilization of maternal health services with special reference to antenatal care (ANC), skilled attendance at delivery and postnatal care (PNC)

Methods: The present paper focuses in understanding the maternal health care utilization by the ever married Rabari women of Udaipur District, Rajasthan. A purposive random sampling method was used to collect data from 122 ever married women of age group 15-49 years by using pretested and modified demographic schedule.

Results: The results of this study showed that 63.11% of the respondents used ANC during their most recent pregnancy whereas only 10.65% women received PNC within two weeks of delivery. In the last delivery, 36.06% mothers were assisted by doctors and 50.81% assisted by nurse. Regarding components of ANC utilization 85.24% women reported intake of IFA (Iron and Folic Acid) tablets during pregnancy, while 77.04% of the women received Tetanus Toxoid (TT) Injection. The study reflects that higher utilization of ANC services are there and PNC services are mostly neglected among the women. The study also reflected upon the use of Birth Control Measures (BCM) among the woman. The lesser number of sample size may bind us from recommending much. But, Mothers should be motivated continuously and with every generation of nation they give birth to, they should utilize such health services for the future of the healthy society.

Keywords
Maternal health, antenatal care (ANC), post natal care (PNC), IFA (Iron and Folic Acid), Tetanus Toxoid (TT), Birth control measures (BCM)
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