Utilisation of Reproductive and Child Health Care Services: Some Observations from Kerala

Abstract

The data from the National Family Health Survey is analysed to show how the same cohort of women utilises facilities in the private health care sector for deliv ery care services, sterilisation care and treatment of their children. The preference of public/private sector depends on nature of service in demand. The role of pri vate providers in health care was found to be limited in the case of family plan ning services, but almost 50 per cent availed delivery care services from the private sector. A majority of women were found to prefer treatment from the pri vate medical service providers if their children were suffering from fever or cough. Class differentials were severe, with the public sector being the major pro vider of RCH care services for the poorer sections of society. People with a higher potential to pay preferred the private sector irrespective of the nature of service they required.