International Journal of Advanced Research and Development

Authors
Tanzila Hamid, Naheed Vaida, Dr. Imtiyaz ali

Abstract
The study investigated the utilization of Antenatal care and effect of various socio-medical determinants on utilization of antenatal care services among Scheduled tribe women of Kashmir. The total number of 408 Scheduled Tribe women (Gujjar and Bakkerwal) in the age group of 18-45 years from four districts of Kashmir i.e. Anantnag, Baramulla, Gandarbal and Srinagar were covered. Standard reproductive health status interview schedule as framed by NFHS-3 (National Family Health Survey) volume II 2005-2006 with selective modification as per requirement was used to collect data. The results revealed poor utilization of Antenatal care services by studied group and significant effect (P<0.05) of Socio-medical factors like educational level, age at marriage, income, husband`s educational level and parity on the utilization of health services by respondents during their last pregnancy has been observed. Thus the study recommends special consideration to socio-medical factors in order to address the unmet need of antenatal care services among scheduled tribe women of Kashmir.