Regional variation in utilization of Antenatal care services in the state of Andhra Pradesh

Delivery of maternal health care services is a major challenge to the health system in developing countries. Provision of antenatal care (ANC) services is the major function of public health delivery system in India to improve maternal health outcomes and its impact on maternal morbidity and mortality. Studies are lack in documenting variation in utilization of ANC services between geographical regions of Andhra Pradesh (AP).

The objective of this study is to assess variation in utilization of ANC services stratified by geographical region, type of delivery and determinants of utilization of ANC services in AP.

It is a cross-sectional study of District Level Household and Facility Survey-4 of the state of AP. Multistage, stratified and probability proportional to size sample with replacement was used. Around 3982 women who delivered after the year 2007 were considered for analysis. Binomial logistic regression was carried out to determine association of demographic, system level variables with adequate ANC.

Study reveals wide variation across four regions of AP in utilization of ANC services. Reception of adequate ANC was low in Rayalaseema region (27.9%) and high in North-coastal region (42.4%). The utilization of private health facilities for ANC services were highest in South-coastal region (73.2%) and lowest in North-coastal region (43.2%).

Policy measures are to be adopted and implemented by government to address the demand-supply imbalance such as public health infrastructure and quality of services in underperforming districts of AP and to increase outreach of current programs by engaging communities.