Usage of Maternal Health Services for Fertility Regulation in India: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

The use of maternal health services in India is influenced by various socioeconomic factors, with higher maternal morbidity during reproductive ages 15 to 49. The Indian government has launched programs like Maternity Safety Scheme (Janani Suraksha Yojana) and Maternity and Child Protection Programme (Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram) to provide free health services to women. However, the burden of these services is disproportionately high among the poorest women, leading to high mother and newborn death rates. In the study, secondary data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) found that place of residence, exposure to mass media, education, caste, religion, and wealth were all significant predictors of maternal health care utilization. The study also found that location of residence; age, birth order, education, caste, religion, and wealth were substantially and significantly associated with the use of antenatal care, skilled attendants at birth, and postnatal care in India. Women aged 25-34 were 54.8% more likely to receive antenatal care (ANC) services than those aged 15-24. Women aged 35-49 experienced a 52.7% increase in ANC services. Rural women were 23.8% less likely to use ANC than urban women. Muslims were 43.8% less likely to seek ANC assistance compared to Hindus. Women with the highest education levels were 5 times more likely to seek ANC than those who were not educated. Schedule Tribes were 1.5 times more likely to participate in ANC than Schedule Castes. Women aged 35-49 had an 86.8% higher likelihood of seeking postnatal care than those aged 15-24 years. Media exposure had a 1.3 times higher chance of receiving this care than those who had none. Muslim women were 17.8% less likely to choose PNC services than Hindu women.