An Analysis of Utilization of Maternal Health Services with Respect to Information Received and Impact of Demographics in Punjab, India

The value information leads to effective utilisation of services. The study identifies the gap in information about maternal health services and their utilisation. The information which has led to utilisation of services can be assiduously labelled as value information or value awareness. The relationship has been explored between awareness about maternal health services and service utilisation among fanani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) beneficiaries in Punjab, a high-performing state in India as per NRHM. Further, an assessment of impact of demographics on beneficiaries with information and those who utilised the services has been explored. Information received and utilisation of ante-natal checkups (ANC), delivery care and post-natal checkups (PNC) services have been studied for two districts in the state of Punjab, India. Chi-square test has been applied to know the association between the maternal health services and the select districts with respect to information and services utilised. Impact of demographic variables such as age, education, income and caste have been evaluated for information and utilisation of maternal health services. The dispersed information that has not triggered in utilisation of services by JSY beneficiaries have been used as an ingredient to explore and understand the deterring factors in non-utilisation of maternal care services in the rural areas of developing country like India. Results highlight that a significant association exists between the utilisation of maternal health services among the select districts in the state of Punjab (x(2) = 8.73, p-value = 0.0127); however, there is no association between the informed beneficiaries and the districts for the maternal health services. No impact of demographic variables has been found on the beneficiaries with information about maternal health services and those who utilised the services. The gap in awareness and utilisation of services throws light on the lurking concerns of unrecognised benefits, uncaring attitude towards health, prejudices about institutional delivery and PNC being considered an unimportant service among the beneficiaries.