SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF ANTENATAL CARE

A large scale community-based study in South Kanara district of Karnat aka state, India has revealed that, despite a low infant mortality rat e (IMR), there is a clear association between IMR and lack of antenata l care (ANC) as well as IMR and poor quality ANC. We analyse the facto rs which determine the utilization of ANC and show the association bet ween quality of ANC and maternal literacy. occupation, age and parity. Factors which are also significantly associated are socio-economic st atus, religion and matriarchal system. Characteristically, those who d o not receive any ANC are poor, illiterate, multiparous unskilled moth ers over 30 years of age and who live far away from a medical facility . This study conclusively demonstrates that even in regions where IMR is low there is enough scope to reduce it further by concentrating our efforts on the high risk population.