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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Utilizing maternal healthcare services: are female-headed households faring poorly?

Authors: Subhasree Ghatak, Meghna Dutta

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Utilization of maternal healthcare services has a direct bearing on maternal mortality but is contingent on a wide range of socioeconomic factors, including the sex of the household head. This paper studies the role of the sex of the household head in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in India using data from the National Family Health Survey-V (2019–2021).

Methods

The outcome variable of this study is maternal healthcare service utilization. To that end, we consider three types of maternal healthcare services: antenatal care, skilled birth assistance, and postnatal care to measure the utilization of maternal healthcare service utilization. The explanatory variable is the sex of the household head and we control for specific characteristics at the individual level, household-head level, household level and spouse level. We then incorporate a bivariate logistic regression on the variables of interest.

Results

24.25% of women from male-headed households have complete utilization of maternal healthcare services while this proportion for women from female-headed households stands at 22.39%. The results from the bivariate logistic regression confirm the significant impact that the sex of the household head has on the utilization of maternal healthcare services in India. It is observed that women from female-headed households in India are 19% (AOR, 0.81; 95% CI: 0.63,1.03) less likely to utilize these services than those from male-headed households. Moreover with higher levels of education, there is a 25% (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI: 1.08,1.44) greater likelihood of utilizing maternal healthcare services. Residence in urban areas, improved wealth quintiles and access to healthcare facilities significantly increases the chances of maternal healthcare utilization. The interaction term between the sex of the household head and the wealth quintile the household belongs to, (AOR, 1.39; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.89) shows that the utilization of maternal healthcare services improves when the wealth quintile of the household improves.

Conclusion

The results throw light on the fact that the added expenditure on maternal healthcare services exacerbates the existing financial burden for the economically vulnerable female-headed households. This necessitates the concentration of research and policy attention to alleviate these households from the sexual and reproductive health distresses.

Trial Registration

Not Applicable.

JEL Classification

D10, I12, J16.

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Title: Utilizing maternal healthcare services: are female-headed households faring poorly?
Authors: Subhasree Ghatak
Meghna Dutta
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06445-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Utilizing maternal healthcare services: are female-headed households faring poorly?

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trial Registration

JEL Classification

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trial Registration

JEL Classification

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