Missed Opportunities in Maternal Care: A Cross-Sectional Study of Utilisation of Anganwadi Services in Central India

Introduction The Government of India has initiated several programs to enhance maternal health. Despite comprehensive operations and significant governmental backing, the usage of nutrition aid and healthcare services from Anganwadi Centres for pregnant and breastfeeding women remains inconsistent and insufficient in various locations. Objectives The primary objective was to investigate the factors influencing the utilization of these services and to explore the reasons for non-utilization. Methodology This was a cross-sectional observational study, intended to evaluate the utilization of Anganwadi services among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Central India. A total of 365 pregnant women and lactating mothers were interviewed using a face-validated questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, awareness of Anganwadi services, and factors influencing utilization. Results The study participants were maximum in the age range of 20 to 30 years, with 35.8% had done graduation. About 61.91% of participants had a spouse qualification of less than graduation. The utilization rate of Anganwadi services among the study participants was around 91%. However, challenges such as logistical barriers, concerns about service quality, and disparities in access persisted. Statistical analysis indicated a significant association between these factors and service utilization (p < 0.05). Conclusion The findings have highlighted the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to maternal and child healthcare services and have significant implications for policy development and program planning.