Existing Practices and Barriers to Avail of Maternal Healthcare Services in Two Slums of Aligarh

Pregnant women living in urban slums are a vulnerable group having limited access to urban healthcare facilities. Slums in the same city may differ from each other in their characteristics and health indicators. Hazardous maternal health practices are also common in the slums. Barriers to avail of healthcare services are well documented. This cross-sectional study was carried out in two urban slums of Aligarh to determine the existing maternal healthcare practices during pregnancy and childbirth and barriers to avail of these services. A house-to-house survey was conducted and 200 mothers having live births in the study period were interviewed. The main outcomes measured were intake of ante-natal care, natal care and post-natal care. Rates of hazardous health practices and reasons for these practices were elicited. Hazardous maternal health practices were found to be common in the slums. At least one ante-natal visit was accepted by a little more than half of the mothers but delivery was predominantly home-based in hazardous conditions. Important barriers to avail of the healthcare facilities included family tradition, financial constraints and rude behaviour of healthcare personnel in hospitals. Significant differences existed between the two slums. Barriers to utilization of health care services and facilities at the local level must be identified and addressed in districtevel planning for health.