1. Use of maternal healthcare services in 10 provinces of rural western China
- Author
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Liu, Xiaoning, Zhou, Xiaoyan, Yan, Hong, and Wang, Duolao
- Subjects
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UTILIZATION of maternal health services , *SOCIOECONOMIC factors , *PRENATAL care , *RURAL health , *PREGNANCY , *MEDICAL quality control , *HOSPITAL utilization , *REGIONAL disparities , *COMPARATIVE studies , *MATERNAL health services , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *RESEARCH , *RURAL population , *EVALUATION research , *CROSS-sectional method ,DEVELOPED countries - Abstract
Objective: To explore maternal healthcare utilization in rural western China, and to analyze the socioeconomic and demographic determinants associated with use of maternal health services.Methods: Between July and August 2005, 14112 women from 45 counties in 10 western provinces of China were enrolled in a cross-sectional study by a multi-stage probability sampling method. The women completed a structured questionnaire, and a 2-level logistic regression model was used to examine the data.Results: The proportion of women who had prenatal care was 95%. The average number of prenatal visits was 4.94. The proportion of women who had more than 4 prenatal visits was 52.9%, and 66.9% of these had their first prenatal visit within 12 weeks of gestation. The hospital delivery rate was 86.3%. The frequency of postnatal visits was 84.8%, and the average number of postnatal visits was 2.19. Han ethnicity, higher education, lower parity, higher wealth index, and lower altitude of county had a higher odds ratio for more than 4 prenatal visits, hospital delivery, and postnatal visits.Conclusion: Maternal healthcare utilization seems to be associated with socio-economic and regional factors. The Chinese government should focus on the supply, funding, and quality of maternity services in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2011
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