Differentials of utilization of maternal health care in Tamil nadu, india

Objectives: To examine the existing pattern of maternal health care and the factors associated with the utilization of such care in Tamil Nadu state, India. Methods: This study uses the data obtained through District Level Household Survey-Reproductive Child Health. Besides, performing chi-square tests to see the association of the relevant individual and household characteristics, logistic regression was also carried out to measure the effect of these characteristics on the use of maternal health care. Results: Maternal health care, measured as mean score is 77.8 for the whole Tamil Nadu. It varies across the districts in this state. Among social variables, religion, caste and education of women and their husband are significantly associated with the utilization of maternal health care. Variables like standard of living, age of women, age at marriage of women, order of pregnancy, and exposure to electronic media are also significantly associated with the maternal health care. However, women with 4 or more gravida, low standard of living, and not exposed to electronic media are less likely to utilize this service. Conclusion: In the state of Tamil Nadu regions make the difference in the observed significant association between the utilization of maternal health care and independent variables at the state level. Though religion and age of women are significantly associated with maternal health care at the state level, it is not so in each region. The status of district in terms of human development index is positively associated with the utilization of maternal health care in Tamil Nadu.