Perceptions and Constraints of Pregnancy Related Referrals in Rural Rajasthan

Abstract

The number of maternal deaths that take place every day in India exceeds the total number of such deaths that occurs in all developed countries in a month. Anaemia, hemorrhage, eclampsia, infections, abortions and the complications of obstructed labor account for most of the maternal deaths in India. A striking feature that shows up when the circumstances in which most of these deaths occur are examined, is that a considerable majority of the women come from rural areas. The two other notable features about the women who die while receiving obstetric care are that they come from long distances, and they come late. Additionally, they share a general background of illiteracy, poverty, malnutrition, socio-cultural problems related to low status and adverse traditional attitudes and practices.