Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services in Himachal Pradesh: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

More than 500,000 maternal deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within a few weeks of delivery occur as a result of poor maternal health delivery in developing countries. Along with many other socioeconomic determinants, the persistent lack of accessibility and underuse of antenatal and other healthcare services continues to be a significant contributor to the high rates of maternal death. The main objective of the present study is to examine the utilization of maternal healthcare services, such as antenatal care (ANC), intranatal care (INC), and postnatal care (PNC), in Himachal Pradesh and what are the determinants which influence the utilization of maternal health care services. The cross-sectional design and multistage stratified random sample used in the study covered three administrative zones within Himachal Pradesh. 576 respondents participated in the study sample, and data were gathered using structured questionnaire. The result of the study showed that majority of the respondents had utilized at least one of the maternal healthcare services. A generous percentage of respondents chose public hospitals for ANC, with Mandi having the most significant consumption of ANC services. Normal delivery was predominant and most of the deliveries took place in public hospitals. The rate of PNC service utilization was relatively low. It was concluded from the study that the importance of education and income in improving maternal healthcare outcomes requires focused interventions to raise PNC service utilization.