Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness: Perception, Practices and Its Linkages with Maternal Health. A Study in Most Populous State (Uttar Pradesh) of India

Prahlad Kumar, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Birth-preparedness and complication readiness (BP/CR) is a comprehensive strategy aimed at promoting the timely utilization of skilled maternal and neonatal health care. The key elements include: knowledge of danger signs; plan for where to give birth, plan for a birth attendant, for transportation, for saving money, for potential blood donor and plan for a decision maker as well. This paper analyzes the individual, familial and contextual factors affecting the BP/CR in most populous state of India. Based on data and enough evidences available from surveys reveals that government health facility was not the preferred choice for obstetric emergency by majority of mothers. Every eight families out of 10 saved money for delivery. Preparedness for transport was found low due to easy availability of local transport but again lack of maintained roads is a matter of concern for delays in study area. Only few families identified potential blood donor for emergency.