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There are various factors that may operate at the individual, household, or community level and control the supply of public health service facilities. These factors acted as barriers of non-acceptance of skilled antenatal care service (ANC). This study made an attempt to examine the interdependent relationship of supply/contextual side and demand side variables which are responsible for non-utilization of ANC among indigenous population. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 248 married Lodha (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) women of West Bengal, Eastern India. Participants were aged between 15 and 44 years, had pregnancy during the last five years prior to the time of the fieldwork. Supply/contextual side and demand side barrier of ANC care were collected. Hierarchical Cluster analysis was done to find out the interdependent relationship among the barriers of non-utilization of skilled ANC. Two hierarchical clusters (HC), one for supply/contextual side and other for demand side barriers, were formed. Dendogram resulted from hierarchical clusters revealed several individual and household characteristics as demand side barriers forming one cluster. Another cluster was formed by factors that controlled health service facilities. We conclude from this study that the utilization of maternal health care is still a challenge in India.
Ganguly et al. (2024) studied this question.