Factors associated with maternal and child health services utilization: A comparative study among Dalit and non-Dalit community of Dailekh district.

Thesis Report.

ABSTRACT: The study aimed to assess the knowledge and utilization of maternal and child health service. This dissertation is an attempt to study the various factors influencing on utilization of MCH Services residing in the Bansi VDV of Dailkeh District . The purpose is to understand the knowledge and utilization behaviours of women among reproductive age group (14-49 years) during Pregnancy, Delivery and Postnatal period and Immunization pattern of less than 5 years of child health. And the objective of the study was to analyze the factors associated with maternal and child health services utilization among Dalit and Non-Dalit communities. The study population was Dalit and non-Dalit people of Bansi VDC. Sample size was 200. The cross sectional study design was used. The data were collected using purposive sampling technique and standard questionnaire was also developed. Behaviours of utilization of MCH care is influenced by various factors such as ethnicity, age, educational level, occupation, income, family size etc. Those specific factors influencing the behaviours of utilization of MCH care were studied and expressed in terms of percentage by using SPSS MS excel frequency, mean. The validity & reliability of study was corrected by using chi-square test. One of the primary reasons for the no utilization of MCH services may be the lack of knowledge on these services offered by the government. which may be attributed to high illiteracy and lower accessibility of institutions providing the services. About 68% of respondents were illiterate. A number of deliveries, in fact, are still conducted at home and continue to be attended by traditional platform under the most unhygienic conditions. And there was a decreasing trend of utilization of PNC service compared to ANC. Analysis of the data on immunization shows that the vaccination rate in this Bansi VDC had quite nice which attain the goal of universal immunization against the major vaccine preventable diseases. Results suggest that there is more need to enhance service utilization by inducing awareness among residing in the Bansi VDC on MCH services that are provided by the government for better improvement of health.