Determinants of utilization of maternity benefit schemes among mothers in urban slums of Davangere city, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Background: Maternal healthcare still a major challenge to the global public health system, especially in developing countries. Globally, every day about 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Many maternity benefit schemes were implemented to improve financial and geographic access to quality care for poor mothers. The objectives of the study were to 1. Utilization of maternity benefit schemes among mothers in urban slums of davangere city. 2. Determinants of utilization of these maternity benefit schemes among mothers in urban slums. Study design was community based cross-sectional study. Methods: This study was conducted among all the mothers who had delivered prior to one year from the start of the study in urban slums. Results: 57% of the mothers had utilised Janani Suraksha Yojana, 29% of mothers had utilized Prasuthi Araike Yojana, 65% of mothers had utilized Madilu Yojana and none of mothers had utilized Thayi Bhagya schemes. The major source of information was health care workers. Major reason for non-utilization of maternity benefit schemes was lack of awareness. Conclusions: Overall the utilization of various maternity benefit schemes is poor among beneficiaries. Mothers and their husband’s literacy status, occupation of mother , type of family, socioeconomic status are the important factors that affect utilization of various schemes.