Examining the relationship between quality of maternal care and neonatal mortality; a quantitative analysis of DLHS 4 data
Student name: Ms Richa Goel
Guide: Dr Papiya Guha Mazumdar
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: National Institute of Medical Statistics
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Lucky Singh
Abstract: Quality of care is a critical dimension in the existing healthcare infrastructure which has recently gained importance and can be instrumental to combat high rates of maternal mortality and neonatal mortality especially in a developing country like India. In terms of reduction of maternal mortality, the continuum of care consisting of the antenatal care, delivery care and post natal care is an integral element that needs to be needs to be acknowledged and addressed. However, there is a lack of enough evidential literature to measure quality of care. This study aims to use the District Level household and Facility Survey (DLHS - 4) to study both the demand side and supply side factors that can influence the quality of care available and utilized by women and examine its relationship with neonatal mortality. The study concludes that the quality of antenatal care is as low as 5%, safe delivery is around 75% and quality of post natal care is around 8%. Other independent factors such as mother’s age, birth order of the child, educational level of mother and father, religion and ethnicity influence the quality of care utilized by women. In terms of measuring neonatal mortality and its relationship with quality outcomes, antenatal care and postnatal care were not statistically significant. Acceptable delivery care reduces neonatal deaths when compared to non acceptable quality of delivery care.
Key words: Quality of care, neonatal mortality, Donabedian model of quality of care, DLHS 4
