Introduction: India accounts for 19% for maternal mortality, worldwide; 20% of these cases could be prevented if immediate medical intervention were available during the birthing process. Health risks associated with home birth include, but are not limited to: postpartum hemorrhage, infectious process/sepsis, and eclampsia. This research focuses on the influence that education has on women's choice of delivery and previous place of delivery; home births vs institutionalized. Based on prior research, we hypothesize that women with higher years of education are more likely to deliver in a hospital compared to women with lower to no education.

 

Methods: There were 257 pregnant women in the rural communities of Mysore, India who participated. We used quantitative methodology of survey research to identify the factors associated with the utilization of antenatal care. Interviewer-administered questionnaire included socio-demographics and delivery practices and attitudes.  

 

Results: Majority of the women preferred a hospital as the delivery location. Previous delivery locations showed hospital deliveries were higher with those women with secondary or above years of education. Home deliveries were higher with those women with primary or less years of education. As age increased, the number of home deliveries increased.

 

Conclusion: Overall, majority of the women delivered at a hospital. Such change can be due to government attempts to reduce home births.