Pregnancy is one of the most critical and unique periods in a women’s life cycle (Vijayalaxmi, K.G., Urooj, A., 2009).  Making sure a woman has availability to proper medical care during gestation is critical not only to her health, but the baby’s health.  A high percentage of women in the reproductive period have a high risk for obstetric complications and low birth weight offspring (National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau).  Guaranteeing mothers have proper maternal health services will play a precarious role in improving reproductive health (Bhatia, J., Cleland, J., 1995).  There are various risk factors that contribute to complications during pregnancy; these risk factors can be biological and social. Social risk factors include diet and nutrition, there are many taboos, superstitions, and traditions surrounding what a mother can and cannot eat during gestation (Placek, C., 2017). Biological risk factors come into play when a mother has no access, or cannot afford antenatal care. All of the risk factors for adverse obstetric care outcomes are drastically related to the likelihood or seeking of prenatal care (Bhatia, J., Cleland, J., 1995). Vijayalaxmi and Urooj (2009) looked at Medical history of the respondents. The Majority of the family members suffered from chronic diseases such as: hypertension 29%, diabetes 23%, and obesity 9%. The timing of antenatal check is critical; some pregnancy-related complications not treated early may compromise the life of the mother and the fetus.

 

    My time at the Public Health Research Institute of India will focus on the infant health and antenatal care. Data was collected from 275 expecting mothers and the covariates looked at were maternal age, maternal education, household income, religion, caste, consangious marriage, occupation, number of children and comorbidities. The team will be analyzing two hypotheses: Women with higher years of education are more likely to deliver in a hospital compared to women with no education, Women with higher income are more likely to deliver in a hospital compared to women with low income.

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Works Cited:

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Bhatia, J. C., & Cleland, J. (1995). Determinants of maternal care in a region of South           

India. Health transition review, 127-142.

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Manasagangotri, M. (2009). Influence of maternal factors on mode of delivery and birth weight in urban pregnant women. J Hum Ecol, 25(2), 133-136.

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​Placek, C. (2017).  Biocultural  investigation of pregnancy diet in South India.

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