Utilization of Intra natal health care facilities by a rural population near Chennai

Prof.Shanthi Edward; Prof. Ramesh Harihara Iyer

Volume : III, Issue : XII, December - 2014

Utilization of Intra natal health care facilities by a rural population near Chennai

Prof. Shanthi Edward, Prof. Ramesh Harihara Iyer

Abstract :

Background: Quality maternal health care is essential for reducing the morbidity and mortality among the mothers. Majority of mothers are likely to die during intra natal period. Maternal health care is not uniformly utilised by the mothers in rural areas of India. Poor illiterate mothers are vulnerable and neglected. Material and Method: It is a population based cross-sectional study which was done among the mothers who delivered between Aug 2004 and July 2005 in a rural area. Sample was selected by cluster sampling method. Results: Mean age of the participants was 24 years. About 64% of the mothers were in the age group of 18 to 21years. Most of the mothers 396(89.6%) were literate and only 323(73%) of mothers belonged to the better standard of living. Among 442 mothers, 95% were institution deliveries but only 20% of mothers delivered in HSC and PHC. About 97% deliveries were conducted by skilled attendant among them 66% of the deliveries were conducted by medical officers and 29% by nurses. Conclusion: Majority of mothers had institutional deliveries but very few had utilized PHC/HSC. Most of the mothers have preferred medical officers to conduct their deliveries.