The number of children, under the age of five dying in India, has reduced by 55% from 1990 to 2012, says a recent report (UNICEF, 2016). A September 2013 Report by UNICEF- ‘Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed,’ suggests that a lot more can be done to lower the Infant Mortality Rate in India. Globally, urban women are more likely to receive antenatal care than women living in rural areas (UNICEF & WHO, 2003). While 85% of pregnant women access antenatal care with a health personnel at least once, only six in ten (58%) receive at least four antenatal visits (World Bank, 2003). Antenatal care can help women prepare for delivery and understand warning signs during pregnancy and childbirth. It can be a source of micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy, immunizations, HIV testing, and detection of at risk cases to provide necessary care. 

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The national survey showed that the women who failed to seek care tended to be older (ages 35 to 49), with a high number of previous pregnancies, and to be socioeconomically disadvantaged. Reasons given in NFHS-2 for not seeking care included not thinking that the checkups were necessary. Inability to meet the costs related to visiting a health facility was another reason; some were not allowed to have these checkups by their families. Lack of knowledge of antenatal care as well as long distances to health centers and lack of transportation were additional reasons given for not seeking care during pregnancy.

 

During the 2017 Global Health Study Abroad Program, my project aims to identify the obstacles and risks to seeking antenatal care in a timely manner of pregnant women living in rural communities. We will incorporate appropriate testing, treatments and education by engaging in group and personalized counseling on the importance of antenatal care during pregnancy. We will then use quantitative methodology of survey research to obtain cultural-based data on the attitude and knowledge of risk cases concerning antenatal care among the women living in the rural areas in Mysore, India.