Health belief as factor affecting access to maternal health care in Chin state, Myanmar

Name: Myo Tun, 1974-

LCSH: Maternal health services -- Burma

LCSH: Health behavior -- Burma

Abstract: The aims of this study were to explore the role of belief on access to maternal health care in Chin State, Myanmar, to examine influencing factors and determine how belief affect access to maternal health care. Chin State is the least developed State in Myanmar. Although health care resources are not deprived relative to other regions, the indicators of maternal health status were poorest in Chin State. While the Myanmar government has initiated health care system reforms, the increasing service capacity alone is a necessary but insufficient condition to improve access. This mixed-study design was conducted in both rural and urban areas of three townships in Chin State. The used qualitative methods were in-depth interviews with 25 women who had child birth within one year, 7 selected husbands and 8 maternal health staff; and focus group discussions with 17 senior women. The quantitative survey was then conducted among 350 women who had child-birth within one year by using structured questionnaires. The findings from qualitative methods reveal that women did not recognize threats of pregnancy and puerperium; neither did they recognize benefits of antenatal and postnatal care. However, they had awareness of threats and role of skilled birth attendant in child-birth. They did not trust staff of formal health care sector, especially during childbirth. The survey found that residential women in Chin State were less likely to seek access to government maternal health services due to the low level of their perceived threats, perception on benefits of government health care, and availability of health care staff. Both quantitative and qualitative findings show that belief is a strong influencing factor of access to maternal health care. Factors such as previous obstetric experiences, lack of health literacy (at individual level), encouragement of husband and influences of senior family members (at family level), accessibility of health resources and geographic isolation (at community level) and social relationship between health care staff and residents (at societal level) influence women's belief, which in turn determines whether they seek access to maternal health care. This survey found that current access situation to antenatal, intra-natal, postnatal and maternal health care were 23.7%, 60.3%, 57.1% and 8.9% respectively. Although socio-demographic characteristics were not found to be associated with access to intra-natal and postnatal care, occupational types of women and their husbands were associated with received antenatal care. Rural women who live far from health services and those with less child birth experiences are more likely to have access to antenatal care, because of health personnel visit to their villages. To improve access, policy-makers must understand the socio-cultural context of women and their belief and trust related to maternal care, and design policy to address relevant influencing factors.

Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center

Address: NAKHONPATHOM

Email: liwww@mahidol.ac.th

Name: Sauwakon Ratanawijitrasin

Role: Thesis Advisors

Name: Darunee Phukao

Role: Thesis Advisors

Name: Paek, Seung Chun

Role: Thesis Advisors

Created: 2018

Modified: 2023-08-09

Issued: 2023-08-09

วิทยานิพนธ์/Thesis

application/pdf

eng

DegreeName: Doctor of Philosophy

Level: Doctoral Degree

Descipline: Health Social Science

Grantor: Mahidol University

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