Patterns of socio-economic inequalities in maternal health care use in U rban India: Evidences from District Level Household Survey 2007 -08

Since the levels of health and health care use are better in urban areas, the study of existing social and economic inequalities is neglected. Considering the importance and neglect of research in this area in India, this study aims to examine socio-economic inequality in maternal health care using latest data from a nationally representative survey. Using Concentration index, the level of socio-economic inequality has been measured in terms of three basic indicators of maternal health care : full antenatal care, safe delivery, and postnatal care. Though level of inequality is moderate at national level, state level variations are considerable in all three indicators.It is found that poorer states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have lower levels of maternal health care use and higher levels of socio-economic inequality. On the other hand states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have almost universal coverage of maternal health care and hence almost no inequality. It is also worth nothing the states in North India have a large share in national urban population. Thus they require immediate attention not only terms of raising level of utilization of maternal health care but also reduction of existing inequality.