Socioeconomic Disparities in Maternity Care among Indian Adolescents, 1990-2006

India accounts for the highest number of maternal deaths (2010) in the world suggesting poor utilization of maternal health care services. The proportion of adolescent deaths (due to pregnancy or during childbirth) to total maternal mortality is high as well. This paper assesses the socioeconomic differentials in accessing full antenatal care (ANC) and professional attendance at delivery (PAD) by adolescent mothers in India during 1990-2006. Data from the three rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India conducted during 1992-93, 1998-99 and 2005-06 were analyzed. The Cochran-Armitage and χ2 tests were applied to examine the trend in proportion. Using pooled multivariate logistic regression model, and adjusting for potential socio-demographic and economic characteristics, the likelihood of adolescent women accessing full ANC increased by only 4%, while PAD increased by 79% from 1990 to 2006. Women’s education manifested the largest differential in service use when compared to other key socioeconomic indicators.