Institutional Deliveryand Travel Pattern of Antenatal Health Check-up : A Case Studyof Nannilam Block, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Introduction : Institutional delivery means giving birth to a child in a health centre or hospital under the overall supervision of well-trained health personnel.There are more facilities available to handle the situation and save the life of the mother and child. Skilled attendance at delivery is to reduce the maternal mortality.

Study Area: Nannilam Block in Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu is chosen as a study area.

Study Sample: Secondary data of child birth attendance was collected from the Government General Hospital and Primary Health centres of Nannilam Block during the year 2010 to 2015. Further, 600 pregnant women were selected from the seven hospitals of Nannilam Block who have been visiting for antenatal health check-ups. They are the respondents of this present study.

Objectives:The objective of the present study is a) to identify the trends of institutional delivery and b) to analyse the travelling pattern of women for antenatal health check-up services provided by the General Hospital and Primary Health Centres in Nannilam Block.

Conclusion: In Nannilam block there is one General Hospital (GH) and six Primary Health Centres (PHC) providing healthcare facilities for the residents. According to the child birth attendance from 2010 to 2015, the highest number of child birth was registered in the Nannilam general hospital. This child birth statistics (2010 to 2015) clearly indicates that the child birth was decreasing with increasing years. However, the child birth has been increased remarkably in Nannilam hospital after 2012; 187 in 2013, 204 in 2014 and 1017 in 2015.The northern parts of Nannilam block particularly west to east frontier zones/areas are highly inaccessible for the utilization of healthcare. These areas are not covered by any health centres. Similarly, the central and south western parts are also not in the limits of hospital service area.