title: Factors associated with the utilization of maternal health care services among adolescent women in Malawi.
abstract: The poor maternal health care service utilization among adolescent women remains an intimidating challenge in Malawi. This study examines the factors associated with the utilization of selected maternal health care services among married adolescent women (aged 15-19 years) using data from the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey, 2010. Maternal age, household economic status, and status of the child were found to be significant factors associated with at least four antenatal care visits; whereas personal barriers, birth order and interval, religion, and ethnic group explain the variation in the utilization of postnatal care within 42 days of delivery.
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. rajesh.iips28@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Prashant Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Lucky
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult