title: Utilization of maternal health care services in Southern India.
abstract: This paper examines the patterns and determinants of maternal health care utilization across different social settings in South India: in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) carried out during 1992-93 across most states in India are used. Results show that utilization of maternal health care services is highest in Kerala followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Utilization of maternal health care services is not only associated with a range of reproductive, socio-economic, cultural and program factors but also with state and type of health service. The interstate differences in utilization could be partly due to variations in the implementation of maternal health care program as well as differences in availability and accessibility between the states. In the case of antenatal care, there was no significant rural-urban gap, thanks to the role played by the multipurpose health workers posted in the rural areas to provide maternal health care services. The findings of this study provide insights for planning and implementing appropriate maternal health service delivery programs in order to improve the health and well-being of both mother and child.
authors.affiliation: Asian MetaCentre for Population and Sustainable Development Analysis, Institute for Asian Research, National University of Singapore, AS7 Shaw Foundation Building, 117570, Singapore. knava29@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Navaneetham
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dharmalingam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D003696:Delivery Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D016015:Logistic Models; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid