Abstract
Background: The infant and maternal mortality rates in India are amongst the highest in the world. The main goals of this study were to investigate healthcare practices of mothers in authorised versus unauthorised sections of one north-eastern Mumbai slum.Methods: This was a cross sectional study. Quantitative data were collected from an 11-item maternal health care survey administered to mothers in authorised areas (n=40) and unauthorised areas (n=60) with questions regarding demographics and maternal healthcare practices. Results: Significantly more mothers in authorised areas registered for maternal health services than those who lived in unauthorised areas (authorised areas 100%; unauthorised areas 87%, P = 0.016). A high percentage of mothers delivered outside of the slum, even though a hospital was located in their slum (authorised areas 37%; unauthorisedareas 38%). Conclusion: Improvement in community engagement strategies and an increasein medical staff may facilitate better maternal health practices in this population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Indian Journal of Maternal and Child Health |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Child Health
- Maternal Health
- Poverty
- Slum dwellers
- Women's health
