A Study on Maternal Health Service Utilization

Abstract

A study focused on economic status, education and empowerment of implications for maternal health service in the world, relative to the attention given to improving the quality of and access to maternal health services, the influence of women’s socio-economic situation on maternal health care use has received scant attention. The analysis uses data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 33 countries for which data on all the 3Es are available. Separate logistic regression models are fitted for modern contraceptive use, antenatal care and skilled birth attendance in relation to the three covariates of interest: economic, education and empowerment status, additionally controlling for women’s age and residence. We use meta-analysis techniques to combine and summarize results from multiple countries. The 3Es are significantly associated with utilization of maternal health services. The odds of having a skilled attendant at delivery for women in the poorest wealth quintile are 94% lower than that for women in the highest wealth quintile and almost 5 times higher for women with complete primary education relative to those less educated. In this study efforts to expand maternal health service utilization can be accelerated by parallel investments in programs aimed at poverty eradication (Millennium Development Goal) (MDG 1), universal primary education (MDG 2), and women’s empowerment (MDG 3). Economic Status, Education and Empowerment: Implications for Maternal Health Service utilization of fourth world countries.