scholarly journals Utilization of Antenatal Care Services in Dalit Communities in Gorkha, Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamata Sherpa Awasthi ◽  
Kiran Raj Awasthi ◽  
Harish Singh Thapa ◽  
Bhuvan Saud ◽  
Sarita Pradhan ◽  
...  

Background and Objective. Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the main components of maternal health. Utilization of safe motherhood is deprived in women who belong to low-caste groups like Dalit of Nepal. Low socioeconomic status, poor knowledge and awareness on obstetric complications, lack of decision-making autonomy, and limited health care options lead to underutilization of existing maternal health care service. The aim of this study was to ascertain the utilization of antenatal care services in terms of ANC visits with health personnel, receiving recommended period of iron tablets, consumption of antihelminthes and number of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccines taken among child bearing women in Dalit community. Materials and Methods. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to conduct the study of 150 child bearing women of reproductive age (15-49 years) having at least one child up to three years of age in a Dalit community of Gorkha from March 2015 to March 2016. The data was collected from each mother by conducting face to face interview with each household by using a questionnaire. Result. The study revealed that mean age at marriage of respondents was 17.7 years and mean age at first pregnancy was 18 years. 44.6% of respondents experienced complication during last pregnancy, labour, and postpartum period in their last pregnancy. 59.3% of respondents stated that neighbors, relatives, and traditional healers were the best first contact person during health problem of women. 76.0% of respondents had attended antepartum visit during their last pregnancy whereas 24.0% of respondents did not attend any antepartum clinic. 68.3% of the mothers had consumed Iron/Folates within 45 days after delivery. Only 30.0% of respondents received antihelminthes (albendazole) while 70.0% of respondents had received TT Vaccines during their last pregnancy. Age, type of family, and education of the mothers were significantly associated with utilization of antenatal care services. Conclusion. Even though there is reasonable good utilization rate of antenatal service, the study revealed that low education and awareness among mothers, low socioeconomic condition, early marriage and pregnancy, inappropriate antenatal health check-up, and cultural taboos were significant factors affecting the satisfactory utilization of services among the Dalit community. Hence, there is a need to emphasize on raising awareness of Dalit mothers for receiving available prenatal services.

Mediscope ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Akkur Chandra Das

The study evaluated the constraints of maternal health in reproductive age in the rural Bangladesh. The study used qualitative approach to gather information where individual in-depth interviews adopted for data collection among women aged 15-49 years old. The overall study revealed that rural women faced many maternal health related complications and problems in their reproductive age such as hemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, obstructed labour and complications of abortion, etc. Maternal health situation still in rural areas was not developed in comparison to the situation of urban areas of Bangladesh and there was not available women’s health care accesses for their emergency; low education level, low per capita income, many family members, early marriage and pregnancy, number of pregnancies, poor nutrition and lack of family support status resulted in low status of maternal and child health in the rural areas of Bangladesh. Adequate measures should be taken for providing proper health care services in rural areas of Bangladesh for better maternal health status.Mediscope Vol. 3, No. 2: July 2016, Pages 1-10


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Elsabet Shudura ◽  
Amanuel Yoseph ◽  
Alemu Tamiso

Background. Regular utilization of maternal health care services decreases maternal morbidity and mortality. However, major predictors that influence the utilization of the existing maternal health care services are complex and differ from place to place. Therefore, assessing these predictors assists health planners to prioritize promotion strategies and is a fundamental step for intervention. This study assessed the utilization and predictors of maternal health care services among women of the reproductive age in Hawassa Health and Demographic Surveillance System site, South Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 682 women of the reproductive age from January to February, in 2019. A two-stage stratified sampling method was utilized. Data were collected using a structured, face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were entered using Epi Data 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The variables were entered into the multivariable model using the backward stepwise regression approach. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with utilization of the maternal health care. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed to assess the presence and strength of associations. Result. The overall utilization of ANC, institutional delivery, and PNC was 69.1, 52.1, and 32.7%, respectively. The odds of utilizing ANC were 4.72 times higher for women who have a formal education (AOR: 4.72, 95% CI = 2.82–7.90) as compared to those who have no formal education. The odds of utilizing institutional delivery were 5.96 times higher for women who had ANC follow-up (AOR: 5.96; 95% CI = 3.88–9.18) as compared to those who had no ANC follow-up. Presence of information about the PNC (AOR: 3.66; 95% CI = 2.18–6.14) and autonomy of a woman to make decision on health issues (AOR: 6.13, 95% CI = 3.86–9.73) were positively associated with utilization of PNC. Conclusion. The utilization of maternal health care services is far below the national target in the study area. Maternal and paternal education status, autonomy of the woman to make decision on the health issues, wealth status, and having a plan on the current pregnancy were major predictors of the maternal health care service utilization. Providing information and training about the model household to the women about maternal health care service utilization using various methods of health education should be considered.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Seham Othman ◽  
Taha Almahbashi ◽  
Alabed Ali A. Alabed

Antenatal care is a vital part of primary healthcare that is known to improve maternal and newborn outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting utilization of antenatal care services for women in reproductive age in Yemen. This cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in six districts of Sana’a City, Yemen. Data were collected from 460 mothers who gave birth in the past six months via face-to-face interviews at home between September to December 2010. Only 54% of mothers were found to have made four or more antenatal care visits. Almost two third of participants made their first visit during their first trimester due to presence of health problems and did not follow up when they became healthy during pregnancy. Reasons for not receiving antenatal care services due to absence of health problems, high cost of antenatal care services, long waiting time, and poor staff attitude. Sixty percent of participants were unaware of the danger symptoms of common health problems in pregnancy. The significant factors affecting utilization of antenatal services were mother education, residence place, age at first pregnancy, gravida, parity, occurrence of pregnancy without planning, and number of live children (P<0.05). The factors affecting the number of visits were mother education, place of residence, and husband work were (P<0.05). Future healthcare activities should focus on improving women’s awareness of the importance of antenatal care even in the absence of noticeable health problems and lack of education about the common danger signs and symptoms of pregnancy.


Author(s):  
Shinjini Ray ◽  
Pravat Bhandari ◽  
Jang Bahadur Prasad

Background: Maternal health was one of the most important millennium development goals (MDGs), India didn’t achieve by the year 2015. Since, India is a multicultural, social and multiregional country, where some of the regions have good social and demographic achievement while some are poor. Haryana is one of them, which has 146 maternal mortality ratio. The level of receiving antenatal care (ANC) in Haryana is quite low as compared to other states of India. Objective of present study was to Understand the extent of use of maternal health care services in Haryana as well as examining the role of antenatal care and other socio-economic factors on the utilization of maternal health services.Methods: Bivariate analysis, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression have been used based on district level household and facility survey-4 data.Results: The utilization of ANC (any and full), institutional delivery and post-delivery treatment seeking varies among women by literacy, age at first marriage, age at women and place of residence. Literate women are two times more likely to access ANC [odds ratio (OR)=1.97 (any ANC), 1.95 (full ANC), p<0.01] and 1.52 times more likely to prefer institutional delivery [OR=1.52, p<0.01].Conclusions: Empowering women through the encouragement of mother’s education should be one of the most fundamental strategies to promote maternal health care services and reduce inequalities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1580-1592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja Sripad ◽  
Charlotte E Warren ◽  
Michelle J Hindin ◽  
Mahesh Karra

Abstract Background Our study investigates the associations between women’s autonomy and attitudes toward the acceptability of intimate-partner violence against women (IPVAW) and maternal health-care utilization outcomes. Methods We combine data from 113 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2016, which give us a pooled sample of 765 169 mothers and 777 352 births from 63 countries. We generate composite scores of women’s autonomy (six-point scale with reference: no contribution) and acceptability of IPVAW (five-point scale with reference: no acceptance) and assess the associations between these measures and women’s use of antenatal care services and facility delivery in pooled and unique country samples. Results A change in a woman’s autonomy score from ‘no contribution to any decision-making domain’ (a composite autonomy score of 0) to ‘contribution to all decision-making domains’ (a score of 6) is associated with a 31.2% increase in her odds of delivering in a facility and a 42.4% increase in her odds of receiving at least eight antenatal care visits over the course of her pregnancy. In contrast, a change in a woman’s attitude towards acceptability of IPVAW from ‘IPVAW is not acceptable under any scenario’ (a score of 0) to ‘IPVAW is acceptable in all scenarios’ (a score of 5) is associated with an 8.9% decrease in her odds of delivering in a facility and a 20.3% decrease in her odds of receiving eight antenatal care visits. Conclusions Our findings suggest that strong and significant associations exist between autonomy, acceptability of IPVAW and utilization of maternal health-care services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-10
Author(s):  
Md Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
Md Shafiqur Rahman ◽  
Abu Noman Mohammed Mosleh Uddin ◽  
Shammi Sultana Ferdousi ◽  
Nargis Nahar ◽  
...  

Introduction: Health care is a continuous care from womb to tomb. Bangladesh has made tremendous achievement in the health sector over the last few decades. Early marriage, perception about pregnancy and high financial cost are the factors for less utilization of health care services. Many other barriers like gender inequality, cultural norms and traditions are important barriers too for seeking reproductive health care services.   Objectives: To further unpack the pattern of dynamic social barriers faced by urban women in accessing reproductive health care services, which in turn may assist the service stakeholders to design programs to overcome the barriers. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive empirical social study was executed in Dhaka city from January 2019 to April 2019. Interviewer administered face to face in depth interview was employed to collect data from 122 samples, estimated by peer review and picked up by haphazard sampling, from among married women of reproductive age 15-45years. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20. Emic and etic interpretation were done on the information generated. All ethical issues were taken care of. Results: The perceived barriers to antenatal, natal, postnatal care and family planning practices were poverty, ignorance and husband non co-operation. As many as 78.7% respondents were house wives, about 71.0% respondent’s age at marriage was 13- 18 years, 36.1% were qualified up to intermediate level, 53.3% are 25-35yrs age group, 80% received antenatal care, 32% gone for home delivery and 68.7% were unwilling for postnatal care services. The present study found that ignorance and poverty were the main reasons for non-utilizing health care facilities. Conclusion: There is scope to improve the utilization of reproductive health care services of urban women. Social and cultural barriers are more common. Health care services are needed to be scaled up and the health education component should be strengthened in health care delivery system to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.13(2) 2017: 7-10


Author(s):  
Nidhi Sharma ◽  
Kiran Kumar H. V. ◽  
Shivesh Devgan

Background: Rapid urbanization in India is fuelling a growth in urban poverty, particularly in the urban slums where the quality of life is extremely poor. There have been limited efforts to capture the health of population living in urban slums and most severely affected are the women of childbearing age and children. So the present study was carried out to assess the utilization pattern of antenatal care and to identify the factors affecting it in urban slums of Amritsar city.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1600 houses selected randomly in four slum areas of Amritsar city in which 659 married women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years who had at least 1 child and had delivered the last child in the last 3 years were found. Total 659 women were interviewed using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma.Results: 58.4% of respondent women attended at least one antenatal visit during last pregnancy. Maximum (43.4%) attended 2 antenatal visits. Majority (64.4%) had their first antenatal visit in 2nd trimester. Majority (57.1%) consumed <100 IFA tablets. Majority (65.6%) were fully immunized with 2 doses/booster of TT. Lack of knowledge about ANC services was the reason given by most of the women (31.0%) for not attending any antenatal visit. The utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services by women was found to be significantly associated with their age, education, birth order, socio-economic status and husband’s education.Conclusions: The utilization of antenatal care services was found to be poor in the study population. Important barriers to service utilization were found to be lack of awareness and lack of felt need. This shows the need for intensive efforts to be made in slum areas to create awareness among women by Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities. 


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice Nyarambi ◽  
Paddington Tinashe Mundagowa ◽  
Prosper Chonzi ◽  
Elizabeth Chadambuka

Abstract Background: Provision of quality maternal health care services is an essential component in ensuring a healthy mother-baby dyad both pre- and post-delivery. In Africa, antenatal care, postnatal care, and skilled birth attendances are very low when compared to high-income countries. The continent has a high burden of maternal and infant morbidity as well as mortality rates. According to the Harare Annual Report of 2016, the number of women seeking maternal health care services was gradually declining from 2014 and pregnant women reported various challenges in accessing health care services. Methods: A 1 to 1 case-control study was conducted in Harare West South Western District using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires. The study was carried out at all three clinics in the district and a total of 73 cases and 73 controls were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Quantitative data were analyzed using Epi Info statistical package and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Results: The median ages for cases and controls were 29 and 24 years, respectively and the age-group 19 to 24 years constituted the majority of participants (41%). Predictors of utilization of services were young age ( < 24 years), birth order of < 2, maternal and paternal occupation, and religion. Enabling factors included: asking for permission to seek care, absence of transport challenges, a shorter distance to the health facility, affordability of health services, and a higher household income. Besides the shortage of skilled staff at the clinics, mothers endured long waiting hours to be served. The majority of the cases (78.1 %) and controls (72.6%) preferred to be attended by male nurses. Mothers were required to pay a $25 fee for booking and city medical staff rarely visited the clinics. Conclusion: The utilization of maternal health care services in Harare is dependent on the individual, household, and system-related factors. There was a need to articulate policies and design maternal health care programs that target socially and economically marginalized women. Creating women-friendly health facilities with extended hours for the antenatal care, delivery care and post-natal care services for mothers can help to decongest the health facilities.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document