Assessing Maternal Health Care Utilization in EAG States of India: Evidences from District Level Household and Facility Survey

India has been trying to improve the maternal health care services but it is still low in Empowered Action Group (EAG) states. These states are socioeconomically and demographically backward. These facts motivate to examine variations in utilization of maternal health care services among EAG states and to know socio-economic determinants of MHC services at district levels and household levels. Study utilizes the data from District Level Household and Facility Survey (2007-08) and Census of India 2001 for analysis. Composite index, Bivariate, correlation and logit regression technique is used for the analysis of data. Result shows that Jharkhand and Orissa have the highest and lowest score in maternal health care index (MHCI) as, 0.11 and 0.72 respectively. The correlation Score (0.27) between MHCI and Socio-economic Development Index at state level is positive . More importantly the factors that influence the utilization of MHC. at district level is the electricity followed by female literacy rate and non-agricultural workforce participation among the development indicators in each EAG states. P value shows that those women who have received ANC have double chance to receive safe delivery and taking PNC within two weeks.