RESUMO
ObjectiveTo probe into the maternal care utilization by minority women, for the purpose of policy recommendations on better maternal care in minority areas. MethodsA combination of stratified random sampling and typical sampling was made on 445 married women of reproductive age in six counties in Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai and Tibet provinces, a field survey on their utilization of maternal care services. ResultsTheir average prenatal detection rate is 78.24％, a level lower than the national rural average of 93.7％ and grade-4 rural average of 81.2％ in 2008; their post partook rate is 30.7％, lower than the national rural average of 54.3％ and grade-4 rural average of 58.9％ in the same period; their average coverage rate is 52.18％, a level lower than the national rural average of 87.1％and grade-4 rural average of 64.3％ in 2008. ConclusionThe maternal care utilization is found to be low for women in minority areas. Effective solutions are expected for payment of indirect expenditure of hospital delivery; better health education for enhancing health knowledge and health awareness of minority women; effective incentive mechanism for village doctors, consolidating the base of the three-level healthcare network.