Status of Maternal Morbidity and Utilization of Maternal Healthcare Services in Rural Purulia, West Bengal, India

Maternal morbidity and inadequate maternity healthcare services (MHS) are pressing concerns in rural Purulia, West Bengal. The continuum of maternal healthcare services (CMHS), encompassing full antenatal care (ANC), delivery care, and full postnatal care (PNC), is essential for reducing maternal risks. Despite such Initiatives, gaps in service utilization persist, leading to high-risk pregnancies or maternal morbidity.A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in rural Purulia from July to October 2023, covering 408 mothers. Regression analysis was applied to analyze associations between maternal morbidity, anaemia, and CMHS. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to explore the association between healthcare components. Only 38.97% of mothers received full ANC (4 or more visits, 180+ IFA tablets, and TT immunization), and just 44.12% received full PNC services, including at least three home visits. The consumption of less than 180 IFA tablets was significantly associated with anaemia (UOR=1.93, p=0.008). Institutional deliveries were high (96.08%), but the low CMHS utilization rate (25.74%) indicated significant gaps in maternity care. Regression analysis showed a significant negative association between CMHS and maternal morbidity (coefficient = -0.56, p=0.000), underscoring the protective effect of comprehensive care. The study highlights critical gaps in MHS, particularly in ANC and PNC, which impact maternal health. Improving the utilization of CMHS by promoting regular ANC visits, ensuring IFA tablet consumption, and strengthening PNC follow-up is essential for reducing high-risk pregnancies and improving maternal health in rural Purulia.