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Georgetown University

Publication Date

Spring 2017

Program Name

India: Public Health, Policy Advocacy, and Community

Abstract

The following study seeks to investigate access to antenatal and delivery-related services and information among women residing in rural, tribal communities around Udaipur, Rajasthan, and to analyze determinants that affect such access. More specifically, it seeks to evaluate one determinant in particular: that of association with and use of the services provided by the nonprofit organization Seva Mandir, which works with rural communities throughout southern Rajasthan in order to facilitate the improvement of health and development activities and outcomes. Methods used for the collection of the data upon which the study draws were qualitative: interviews were conducted with 27 women in communities with which Seva Mandir does and does not work, as well as with 5 frontline health workers who serve within those areas. Interview questions consisted of both direct, concrete inquiries regarding use or completion of particular aspects of antenatal or delivery-related care, as well as more open-ended questions concerning purpose of care and the types of information provided by frontline health workers. Thus, this study seeks to contribute to the existing body of literature regarding maternal health outcomes in Rajasthan by analyzing accessibility of both information and awareness of best practices in maternal health and of high-quality services during the antenatal and intranatal periods. Findings indicate that such awareness remains limited, even among women who experience high-quality care before and during delivery. Thus, the results of the study suggest that greater efforts must be made to transform the role of women from service beneficiaries to health agents.

Disciplines

Asian Studies | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Family, Life Course, and Society | Maternal and Child Health | Medicine and Health | Organization Development | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Women's Health

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