Utilization of Maternal Health Services among the Rural Women and their Predictors: An Evidencefrom Auraiya District of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality is a great global health issue. Though in past decades there has been good
progress in bringing down MMR but the progress occurred at slower pace. Many of these deaths can be avoided
if there is increase in utilization of maternal health services by women.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the pattern of utilization of maternal
Health services and the predictors of it among women in the rural areas of Auraiya District.
Results: There was a high level of ANC service utilization, with most women adhering to recommended visit
schedules, initiating care early, and receiving appropriate supplementation and immunizations. Women had strong
preference for institutional deliveries, particularly at CHCs, and a high prevalence of skilled birth attendance.
Women’s education, Husband’s education, Religion, Social class, husband’s occupation, monthly income, age at
marriage, interval between births, status of pregnancy, and history of still birth had significant association with
antenatal services utilization. caste, occupation of the mother, age at first pregnancy showed a significant impact
on the utilization of intranatal services. Women’s education, social class, monthly family income, family structure,
age at the time of marriage, birth order, status of pregnancy, and history of abortion was strongly associated with
postnatal care utilization.
Conclusion: Overall, there was a high level of maternal health services utilization indicating that the government
programmes are effective in increasing the utilization of Antenatal and intranatal services utilization.