Knowledge and Utilization of Safe Motherhood Services (A Case Study of Dalit Community in Dhikura VDC, Arghakhanchi)

Abstract

This study on "Knowledge and Utilization of Safe Motherhood Services in Dalit Community in Dhikura VDC, Arghakhanchi" was carried out by using the primary data collected in the field survey. The field survey covered selected wards 1, 3, 4 and 5 of Dhikura VDC of Arghakhanchi and 120 married Dalit women aged 15-49 years were selected under the purposive sampling who had at least one child under 5 years of age during the survey time. The main objective of this study was to examine knowledge of safe motherhood, level of utilization of safe motherhood practices in Dalit community. The relationship between two or more variables has been examined through cross tabulation. The main determinant for this research are antenatal checkup, TT-vaccination, receiving iron tablets and vitamin 'A', delivery assistance, place of delivery, use of clean delivery kit and postnatal checkup. The study included 646 population from 120 household which consisted 49.1 percent male and 50.9 percent female. The literacy rate of the study population is 73.4 percent. The study, shows 64.9 percent population were married, 2.6 percent were window/widower and 1.8 percent were separate. Most of the household were involved in agriculture. In the study 55.8 percent respondents were literate. Higher percentage of respondent were in age group 20-29 years. The study shows 91.7 percent respondents have knowledge about safe motherhood. According to study 70.8 percent respondent were received ANC services. Higher percent of respondents were received ANC from sub-health post/health post. In the study 85.1 percent literate respondents were received ANC services and higher percentage of respondents were received ANC in age 20 years and above. In the study 78.3 percent- respondent received TT vaccine, 59.2 percent respondents were received vitamin 'A'. In the study 84.2 percent respondents were delivered at home, only 26.7 percent respondent were used of clean delivery kit and 85 percent respondents were used sterilized blade to cut the new born baby's cord. In the study only 10 percent respondent were received postnatal care services. Higher percentage (41.7%) of respondents were received postnatal care from sub health post/health centre. This study found a strong positive relationship between education and knowledge, utilization and maternal health care services. There was significant relationship between receiving iron tablets, TT vaccination, vitamin 'A' and age at marriage, level of education of respondents and their husband.