Pregnancy Experiences: Utilisation Of Antenatal Care Services In Assam, India

Abstract

This article analyzes the factors influencing the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services throughout pregnancy and the way it is managed. Antenatal care from qualified medical professionals gives expectant mothers the attention they need to achieve the best possible health for both the mother and the unborn child during pregnancy. Those care providers are supposed to facilitate women with information and assistance throughout the pregnancy and afterward. ANC services are the initial step in ensuring the health of the mother and child which is one of the basic needs during pregnancy. But for many pregnant women, notably in low- and middle-income countries, where a variety of dietary deficits typically coexist, awareness of healthy pregnancy and dietary consumption of nutritious food are frequently insufficient to meet these needs. Services of medical professionals are either inadequate or inappropriate in many of those regions. By examining the experiences of selected women from the Mountgaon district of Assam, this study looks at the factors affecting the accessibility of antenatal services for women. The study clarifies the lower-than-average use of healthcare services in the targeted area because of the non-availability of facilities, lapse in the proper healthcare management and socio-cultural peculiarities relating to women and their families. The analysis shows the impact of socio-economic and cultural factors on health-seeking behaviour as well as the usage of the available healthcare facilities.