Factors Affecting the Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services among Bhunjia tribe of Chhattisgarh (India)

Antenatal and delivery care are two essential components for maternal health care. The place of residence and ethnicity of any population are major factors which play important role in utilization of health care system during pregnancy and delivery. In tribal areas, the maternal health status is influenced by several factors like early marriages, malnutrition, illiteracy, ignorance and lack of health services, unavailability of transport facilities , female autonomy, ethnicity and place of residence. One of the most important reasons for poor maternal health status is non-acceptance or non-utilization of antenatal and delivery care services. The present paper tries to determine the factors for non-utilization of antenatal and institutional delivery care services with the help of a population based cross-sectional study. For this study quantitative as well as descriptive approach were used and an attempt was made to analyze the availability of health facilities and infrastructure, distance of residence from district headquarter and ethnicity factors affecting the utilization of antenatal and delivery care services among Bhunjia tribe of Chhattisgarh. The results of the present study revealed that utilization of antenatal care was significantly associated with distance of village from district headquarter, ethnicity of Bhunjia tribe, approachable road, and health centre availability in Bhunjia villages. Availability of Mahtari Express and distance of village from district headquarter were also directly associated with utilization of institutional delivery.