Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Utilisation of Maternal Healthcare: Evidence from Karnataka
Sampriti Bhattacharjee, T K Anil Kumar and Krishna Raj
Abstract
Maternal morbidity and mortality rates are still high among different socio-economic groups and regions in India. Access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services drastically vary among these groups and various factors influence them. Against this backdrop, this study aims to determine the impact of socioeconomic factors on the utilisation of maternal healthcare in Karnataka and the administrative districts of Karnataka. This paper uses the recent data from Round five of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for Karnataka state. The regional analysis shows that amongst the four administrative divisions, Bangalore performed the best in this measure, followed by Mysore, Belgaum, and Kalaburagi. Wealth index and education emerged as the most significant predictors of utilisation of maternal healthcare services.