Utilization of maternal healthcare services in Tanzania

Reshmi R.S., International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

In most developing countries, the utilization of maternal health services has remained poor. The study on maternal health care utilization and the associated factors can help in identifying critical issues related to the health status of women. This paper examines the patterns and determinants of maternal health care utilization in Tanzania. Data from Demographic and Health Surveys (2010) has been used for the study. The analysis revealed that the coverage of maternal health care utilization is poor in Tanzania. Only forty three percent of the women whose last birth occurred five years before the survey made four or more antenatal care visits, only half of the deliveries took place in a health facility and around 65 percent of the women did not receive post natal care. The socio-economic factors showed strong gradients on the utilization of maternal health care services in Tanzania.