Determinants and Caste-Based Disparities in Very Early Pregnancy Awareness Among Indian Women: Evidence from NFHS-5.

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Maternal and Child Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-17 DOI:10.1007/s10995-026-04304-w

Subhajeet Singh Sardar, Mridul Mandal, Subhasis Bhattacharya, Shubhra Singh Sardar

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines the determinants and caste-based disparities of very early pregnancy awareness among Indian women using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019-21).

Methods: Data were obtained from NFHS-5, a nationally representative survey of women aged 15-49 years in India. The analysis included 172,871 women. Very early pregnancy awareness was defined as awareness of pregnancy within the first month of gestation. Survey-weighted logistic regression models accounting for clustering, stratification, and sampling weights were employed to examine associations between very early pregnancy awareness and demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare access-related factors. Additional caste-stratified analyses were conducted for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Other caste groups. Supplementary analysis assessed the association between very early pregnancy awareness and timely antenatal care initiation within the first trimester.

Results: Higher educational attainment, household wealth, and perceived geographic access to health facilities were significantly associated with greater odds of very early pregnancy awareness. Compared with Scheduled Tribe women, Scheduled Caste women (AOR = 1.277, 95% CI: 1.202-1.356) and women belonging to Other caste groups (AOR = 1.390, 95% CI: 1.314-1.471) had significantly higher odds of becoming aware of pregnancy within the first month. Women with higher education had substantially greater odds of very early pregnancy awareness compared with women having no formal education (AOR = 1.764, 95% CI: 1.661-1.874). Women with very early pregnancy awareness were significantly more likely to initiate antenatal care within the first trimester (AOR = 1.406, 95% CI: 1.355-1.459).

Conclusions for practice: Substantial caste-based and socioeconomic disparities persist in very early pregnancy awareness among Indian women. Improving female education and reducing geographic barriers to healthcare may enhance timely pregnancy awareness and antenatal care utilization.

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印度妇女早期妊娠意识的决定因素和种姓差异：来自nfhs的证据。

目的：本研究使用国家家庭健康调查-5 （NFHS-5, 2019-21）的数据，研究了印度妇女早期怀孕意识的决定因素和基于种姓的差异。方法：数据来自NFHS-5，这是一项针对印度15-49岁女性的全国代表性调查。该分析包括172871名女性。早期妊娠意识被定义为妊娠第一个月内的妊娠意识。采用统计聚类、分层和抽样权重的调查加权逻辑回归模型来检验早孕意识与人口统计学、社会经济和医疗保健获取相关因素之间的关联。对表列部落（ST）、表列种姓（SC）和其他种姓群体进行了额外的种姓分层分析。补充分析评估了早期妊娠意识与妊娠早期及时产前护理之间的关系。结果：较高的教育程度、家庭财富和感知到的地理位置上的卫生设施与更大的早期怀孕意识的几率显著相关。与预定部族妇女相比，预定种姓妇女（AOR = 1.277, 95% CI: 1.202-1.356）和其他种姓妇女（AOR = 1.390, 95% CI: 1.314-1.471）在第一个月内意识到怀孕的几率明显更高。与没有接受过正规教育的女性相比，受过高等教育的女性早期怀孕意识的几率要高得多（AOR = 1.764, 95% CI: 1.661-1.874）。妊娠意识较早的妇女更有可能在妊娠早期开始产前护理（AOR = 1.406, 95% CI: 1.355-1.459）。实践结论：在印度妇女的早期怀孕意识中，基于种姓和社会经济的巨大差异仍然存在。改善女性教育和减少医疗保健的地理障碍可以提高对妊娠的及时认识和产前保健的利用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Maternal and Child Health Journal PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

4.30%

发文量

271

期刊介绍： Maternal and Child Health Journal is the first exclusive forum to advance the scientific and professional knowledge base of the maternal and child health (MCH) field. This bimonthly provides peer-reviewed papers addressing the following areas of MCH practice, policy, and research: MCH epidemiology, demography, and health status assessment Innovative MCH service initiatives Implementation of MCH programs MCH policy analysis and advocacy MCH professional development. Exploring the full spectrum of the MCH field, Maternal and Child Health Journal is an important tool for practitioners as well as academics in public health, obstetrics, gynecology, prenatal medicine, pediatrics, and neonatology. Sponsors include the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH), and CityMatCH.