Utilization of maternal care services in rural India: Findings from multi-level analysis

Jareena S, Sri Venkateswara University
Ramesh Poluru, Centre for Operations Research and Training

This paper attempts to examine how the characteristics of individual, household and community influence the utilization of maternal care services (antenatal, natal and post-natal) among the mothers in rural Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Data on the two most recent births from the second Indian National Family Health Survey were analyzed using a two-level multi-level (logit) model. The multilevel analysis shows that apart from socioeconomic and demographic variables, community level facilities were observed to have strong positive effect on the utilization of maternal care services. Further, observance of recommended antenatal care had highly significant association with natal and postnatal care. Hence, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of recommended antenatal care for safe motherhood and child survival among the rural illiterate masses through appropriate IEC activities. This will pave the way for effective utilization of the available maternal care services in backward rural masses among the Indian states.