Maternal care receptivity--an innovative approach for the evaluation of MCH services
Srinivasa, D.K.; Venkatesh, S.
Health and Population; Perspectives and Issues 5(2): 59-75
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-6803 PMID: 10264319 Document Number: 399212
Despite rapid expansion in the maternal and child heatlh and family planning services, there have been few attempts made to study the extent of utilization of these services and their impact at a rural Health Center. The present study reports a simple method evolved in the quantification of utilization of maternal care services (called maternal care receptivity-MCR), the relationship of factors such as age, parity, caste of the women, religion, and the distance of the health center on the MCR and the impact of MCR on perinatal and neonatal mortality rates. An inverse relationship was observed between MCR and perinatal and neonatal mortality rates and the 2 rates were 3 times less among babies born to mothers with high MCR scores compared to those with poor MCR scores. MCR scores are based on: 1) time of commencement of antepartum care; 2) number of antenatal clinic visits; 3) tetanus toxoid immunization; and 4) place of and person attending delivery. An appendix describes the scoring procedure. (author's modified)