Publication:

Attitude of pregnant women towards institutional delivery: a study in Khaag block-a tribal area of the Kashmir valley

Background Motherhood is often a positive and fulfilling experience but for many women it is associated with suffering, ill health, and even death. Improving maternal health is one of the thirteen targets for the sustainable development goal 3 (SDG-3) on health adopted by the international community in 2015. Objective of the study was to find out the attitude of pregnant women towards institutional delivery in Khaag block of district Budgam.

Methods A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted, in February 2018 to March 2018, to assess attitude of pregnant women towards place of delivery in a tribal area of Khaag area of district Budgam. For this study, 99 pregnant women were approached. Informed consent was obtained from the participants and the registered pregnant women were interviewed by a pre-designed questionnaire.

Results Mean age at the time of contact was 28 years with a standard deviation of 3.87 years. The maximum years of schooling were 10 years. It was found that the last delivery was conducted at hospital for about 76% of women but for the present pregnancy 88% of the women had decided to have it conducted at the hospital. Thus, the attitude of women towards institutional deliveries has changed positively (p=0.001).

Conclusions Percentage of institutional deliveries is still less in rural area of Khaag is Kashmir. For decreasing the maternal and infant mortality rates further, much is still to be done. Awareness needs to be generated among common masses for promoting institutional deliveries. Educating women folk will make them confident in decision making.