Geographic Disparities and Determinants of Complete Utilization of Continuum of Maternal and Newborn Healthcare Services in Rural India

POOJA TRIPATHI, Research scholar

Geographic Disparities and Determinants of Complete Utilization of Continuum of Maternal and Newborn Healthcare Services in Rural India Abstract Background: Maternal and newborn health are crucial in India’s public health, particularly in rural areas. This paper examines geographical disparities and factors influencing full use of maternal and newborn healthcare services in rural India. Methods: Data from the 2019-2021 National Family Health Survey-5 are analyzed, focusing on 130,312 women aged 15-49 who gave birth in the last 5 year. The study used cluster and outlier analysis and employed multivariable binary logistic regression to examine factors influencing Continuum of Maternal and Newborn Healthcare Services Results: In rural India, 54.3% of women had 4+ antenatal care visits, 88.6% had skilled birth attendance, and 75.5% of mothers and 79% of newborns received postnatal care. Despite this, less than 50% completed the full continuum of maternal and newborn care. Complete care was more common in north-eastern and central districts, while south Indian states lagged. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for targeted interventions addressing socio-economic factors, especially for poorer, less educated mothers, to boost full utilization of maternal and newborn healthcare services. Keyword: Maternal health; Healthcare utilization; Antenatal care; Postnatal care; Skilled birth attendant

Keywords: Fertility, Population and Development, Data and Methods, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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