Optimizing antepartum and post-partum health care support and practices and its association with dietary intake among the reproductive women: a national level study from Indian context

Access to adequate nutritious food is a basic requirement for good & reproductive health as it ensures healthy pregnancy and birth outcomes. The main essence of the present study was to show the association of antepartum and post-partum health care support and practices with dietary intake of the women of reproductive age in India. Data were drawn from the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), conducted in India during 2019-2021. A total of 112,058 women aged 15-49 years participated in this present study. Descriptive analysis, cross-tabulation along with Pearson's test of association significance test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to accomplish study objectives. Healthcare supports during antepartum and post-partum periods and practices adopted had a significant association with dietary intake practices. Attending antenatal care, breastfeeding practices (fruits-AOR:1.44; 95% CI: 1.15-1.53; milk-AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.21-1.46; and protein-AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.13-1.58), availing ASHA services (fruits-AOR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02-1.24; protein-AOR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.16-1.27), and financial assistance received from Janani Suraksha Yojana (fruits-AOR:1.23; 95% CI: 1.09-1.37; milk-AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.15-1.46; and protein-AOR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.27-1.43) and others scheme provided from Government's end along with different socio-economic factors were found to have significant association with dietary intake practices. Emphasis should be laid on access to maternal healthcare services including adequate ANC follow up and taking extra precaution in providing the services for different Governmental schemes for pregnant women with the aim of promoting of appropriate dietary practices.