DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/jswmc2023v13-01-61
*Nurunnabi M , Chowdhury N , Hasan F, Kaiser FR
Abstract
Background: Maternal deaths are still high and unsolicited incidence in the world, significantly in the low and lower-middle-income countries. Above half of the maternal deaths occur due to preventable or treatable medical conditions, which are associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was designed to assess the perceptions and utilization of MCH services among the 122 women of childbearing age (WCBA) of rural communities in Ramu Upazila, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Results: The majority (70.5%) of the WCBA were in the age group 18-32 years. Above two-thirds (69.7%) of mothers were literate; four-fifth (79.5%) were homemakers and above one-third of them (36.9%) delivered their first child below the age of 18 years. Majorities knew the importance of ANC services (85.2%) and 97.1% of them knew ANC visit schedules, but more than half (54.9%) cannot describe it correctly. During their last pregnancy, above four-fifths (84.4%) received antenatal checkups, but half (50.5%) of them did not take four ANC visits. The mode of the last delivery (93.4%) was a vaginal delivery, and more than half of the deliveries (54.9%) occurred in different hospital settings. Three-fifths of the mothers (60.7%) used contraceptive methods and about four-fifths (78.4%) of them took OCP. Onethird of the mothers (31.2%) expressed their interest for permanent contraceptive methods. The majority (92.6%) took the TT vaccine and half of them (51.3%) completed 5 doses of TT vaccine during their teenage period. Above one-third of the mothers (36.9%) didn’t suffer any notable complications. Above half of the maternal deaths occur due to preventable or treatable medical conditions, which are associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Conclusion: Strengthening MCH services is a health priority for Bangladesh. The study has demonstrated that the perceptions of WCBA about MCH services were good and utilization of MCH services is satisfactory, which reflects the effectiveness of community-based intervention in the study place through the implementation of MCH services.