Anurag Srivastava

Correlates of maternal health care utilization in Rohilkhand region, India

Background: Until date, the importance of maternal health care services in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity has received a significant recognition. Most of the maternal deaths can be prevented if women have access to basic antenatal, natal and postnatal care. However, uptake of maternal health care services is far from universal even in settings where they are extensively available. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the pattern and identify underlying factors on maternal health care utilization in rural areas of Bareilly. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study was conducted during June-December 2011. Six villages were selected by convenience out of 99 villages in Bhojipura Block of Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh to cover maximum number of women. All currently married women aged between 15 and 49 years who had delivered a child within last 1 year were interviewed by house-to-house survey and comprised the study unit. Their socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, reproductive history and knowledge of specific obstetric complications were taken. The information was gathered on various aspects of maternal-care utilization. In analyzing data, both bivariate and multivariate analyses were employed, using the Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows, Version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois,USA). Results: Most (88.6%; 343/387) of pregnancies had registration for antenatal care (ANC). Majority (69.7%; 239/343) of them were registered between 16 and 24 weeks. Only 28.5% (110/343) of women received ANC from a private doctor. Maternal health care service utilization from health personnel was significantly associated with age at marriage ≥18 years, family size ≤3, birth order ≤2, nuclear family and higher socio-economic status. Most of the pregnancy related complications were found among women aged >30 years, with birth order ≥3, having birth interval <24 months, among Muslims, working mothers and among those belonging to joint family. Mother′s education and husband′s occupation were found to be strong predictors for the utilization of maternal health care using the logistic regression. Conclusion: Utilization of maternal health care services is high. However this can be improved by community based education program.

A cross sectional study of knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene, in undergraduate student girls of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Observation of menstrual hygiene and practices during this period has a substantial bearing on the genito-urinary health of an individual. In Indian society discussion on menstruation is still considered a taboo resulting in poor knowledge and unhygienic practices during this period. Objectives of the study was to assess the status of knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among the undergraduate student girls and to assess the source of information and prevailing myths regarding menstruation in the society. Methods: 396 female first year students pursuing undergraduate course were studied with the help of a structured pilot tested questionnaire. Results: 68.7% girls were aware about menstruation before attaining the menarche. Mother or sister was the source of such information in 75.8% of those who were having this awareness. In spite of 56.6% girls being aware that sanitary napkin are the best absorbent to be used; only 24.75% were found to use it. Ordinary new cloth was used by 40.4% while 34. 85% used any available cloth. 39.4% girls cleaned external genitalia less than three times. Plain water was used for cleaning by 50.5%. Nearly three fourth of the girls were found to practice some or the other kind of restriction during menses. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to create awareness regarding menstrual hygiene among all the females in the society and to de-root the prevalent myths. The role of teachers and media should be enhanced. This will help in reducing the burden of genito-urinary infections and improve the reproductive health.