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Men and maternal health care utilization in India and in selected less-developed states: evidence from a large-scale survey 2015–16

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2020

Aparajita Chattopadhyay Open the ORCID record for Aparajita Chattopadhyay [Opens in a new window]  and
Dipti Govil Open the ORCID record for Dipti Govil [Opens in a new window]
Aparajita Chattopadhyay*
Affiliation:
International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
Dipti Govil
Affiliation:
International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
*
*Corresponding author. Email: aparajita@iips.net
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Abstract

Male involvement in maternal health care utilization is an important contributor to maternal health, especially in male-dominated societies. This study aimed to understand the variations and determinants of women’s antenatal care (ANC) utilization and institutional delivery in India and three socioeconomically less-developed states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh) using NFHS-4 data (2015–16). Husband’s knowledge of pregnancy care and delivery, having a non-violent marital relationship and a respectful attitude towards his wife, better education and wealth, higher exposure to mass media and fewer children substantially enhanced the probability of him being present at his wife’s ANC visits. Furthermore, men’s presence at any ANC visit was shown to be an important factor influencing institutional delivery in India as a whole, as well as in the three less-developed states. The two major hurdles in maternal and child health care utilization in India were incorrect perception of ‘unnecessary’ maternal health care by families and high cost as reported by husbands. Furthermore, the proportion of husbands who received knowledge from health workers on maternal and child health was too low to achieve the maternal health SDGs by 2030. The dissemination of knowledge on maternal care among husbands, and encouraging their presence during antenatal care, may help secure better maternal health outcomes in India. It is imperative that the husband-involvement agenda is strengthened in India if the SDGs for maternal care are to be achieved.

Keywords

Maternal and child healthReproductive healthPopulation health
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 53 , Issue 5 , September 2021 , pp. 724 - 744
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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