Antenatal Care of Pregnant Women in India

Abstract

Research question: What is the status of antenatal care among pregnant women in India? Objective: To assess the status of antenatal care for pregnant women in India. Sampling design: WHO 30 cluster survey methodology with certain modifications incorporating information on female literacy and distance of the village has been used. Setting: Survey covered about nineteen thousand pregnant mothers from 90 districts of the country. Statistical analysis: Simple proportions. Results: The characteristics of sample households for pregnant women were broadly in proportion to the characteristics of the all India population. About 89% of the pregnant women availed antenatal visits of which 62% had received three or more ANC visits. Those receiving the second dose of TT or booster dose were about 78%. About 73% of the pregnant women received IFA tablets during their pregnancy. About 53% of the pregnant women had full package of ANC i.e. availed 3 or more ANC visits both the doses of TT/ boster and IFA tablets. The proportion of pregnant women who availed full ANC package was lower in rural as compared to urban areas lowest for ST followed by SC; higher for literate women as compared to illiterate women. The proportion of Institutional deliveries managed by hospitals and health centres was about 41% it being higher among literate women and in urban areas. Conclusion: The literacy of women is the key to improve antenatal care of pregnant women. Hence efforts should be made to have Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities targeted to educate the mothers especially in rural areas. The tribal small and inaccessible villages and the states of Bihar Rajasthan UP MP and North Eastern states (combined) should be focused and targeted in the RCH programme. (authors)