Maternal Health Care and Contraceptive Acceptance in Orissa : Evidence from a Baseline Survey

Abstract

The MCH services are offered at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and their subcenters in the rural areas, and by general hospitals, women's and children's hospital and MCH centers run by State Health Departments and also through Municipal and Voluntary Organizations in the urban areas. The antenatal care services can be utilized by pregnant women either by visiting the antenatal clinics and getting medical check-up and/or from the visits of health staff such as Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Lady Health visitor (LHV) or Female Health Worker in the course of their domiciliary visits. In a number of programs where the maternal and child health care services, and nutrition and contraceptive service packages were offered, the practice of family planning was observed to increase along with the increase in the use of antenatal care services (Gwatkin, D et al, 1980; Anubhav, 1988).