Factors Affecting the Accessibility of Maternal Healthcare Facilities in Punjab Province, Pakistan

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify the hidden factors that influence maternal health services in the Punjab  region of  Pakistan.  The  study  was  conducted  in  Punjab  province,  Pakistan. A  multi stage sampling technique  was  used  to  cover  the  large area.  The  area was  separated  into  three  stages.  In  the  first  stage, one division of Gujranwala out of nine divisions was selected through a random sampling technique. In the second stage, two districts were selected Sialkot and Gujranwala through a random sampling technique. In the third stage, four  hundred  respondents  were  selected  200  from  each  district  through a convenient  sampling technique. The findings of the research demonstrate that most of the respondents were living in rural areas. The  majority of  the  respondents  were  high  school  pass  and the respondent’s husband's education  was intermediate level. Most of the respondent’s total household monthly income was 20001-30000. The majority of  the  respondents  have  less  awareness  about  pregnancy problems and  respondents  faced complications during pregnancy. Most of the mothers faced difficult access to maternal health care services and had a long distance to health care center from home while  most of the respondents hardly had access to transport. The majority of the respondents could not afford any maternal health care services and were waiting long hours for checkup sat the maternal health centers. The majority of the respondents adopted a traditional method and they delivered the baby at home and most of the respondents agreed that patriarchy impacts maternal health care  services.  It  is  recommended  that the government  ensure  basic  education, particularly  in  rural  areas  of Punjab, Pakistan