Utilization of maternity and child health services in Laydaung-gan and Shande-gyi villages of the Hlegu Township

ABSTRACT

A survey of the utilization of maternity and child health services in the Laydaung-gan and Shande-gyi villages of the Hlegu Township was carried out during the period from 26 April to 4 May 1970. 141 mothers, all those who delivered a baby during the previous 12 months were interviewed. Using a questionnaire in a house-to-house survey, information on utilization of prenatal, perinatal and child health services were recorded. The analysis of the data showed that 141 women, during the previous deliveries excluding the last one, utilized in 68.2 per cent of cases the assistance of themidwife during labour, in 24.0 per cent of cases the assistance of the lethe (traditional midwives) and in 3.3 per cent of cases of the doctor. The same mothers during the last labour utilized the assistance of the midwife in 83.8 per cent of deliveries, of the lethe in 12.0 and of the doctor in 2.1 per cent of all deliveries. Out of the total. number of 143 children born there were 2 twin deliveries. Five deliveries were completed in the hospitals. With regard to the prenatal care, 68.1 per cent of the mothers had on the average 2.9 times urine analysis done for albumen, and 73.8 per cent of all mothers had blood pressure taken, 2.2 times on the average. 56.0 per cent of women were taking medicines during the 1ast pregnancy. Almost 100 per cent of the interviewed mothers received the medicines free of -charge either from the MCH clinic or from the hospital. During the last pregnancy 31.9 per cent of the mothers complained of giddiness, 21.6 per cent of hyperemesis and 22.1 per cent of oedema. The extent of utilized prenatal and perinatal services is shown in several tables. The key person in 'providing prenatal and perinatat. service was the midwife. The lethe appears to be less and less utilized. Trained, qualified midwife is dominating in the maternal and child health care in the two villages surveyed.