Impact of Household Environment on the Maternal Health in Rural India: Evidences from National Family Health Survey-3

Ensuring environmental sustainability is one of the goals of MDGs. Household environment as an essential pre-requisite of environmental sustainability affects maternal health in a big way. Yet, little has been done in the prevailing environmental conditions that predispose women to morbidity and mortality in predominantly rural India. This study focuses on the impact of societal practices and conditions, household decision-making, access to and utilization of health services that influence maternal health status in rural India.
Analysis of data reveals that likelihood of better maternal health was significantly higher among households that used flush toilet than pit latrine, pipe water than stream water, electricity/gas for cooking than firewood. Toilet facilities, water and cooking environment were poor among many women, exposing them to infectious diseases. Societal status of women played a significant role in maternal health. Ever married women had better health status than those that were single; women who had their first babies earlier than 18 years of age had poorer health status compared to those who had them later and little role of maternal education in household decision-making. Household sanitation and hygiene behaviour were significantly intertwined with maternal health status.