Does empowerment of women help in use of maternal health care services in India: evidence from North-East Region

Mousumi Gogoi, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

The present study tries to focus on women’s empowerment status and its association with utilization of maternal health care (MHC) services in North-East India using third round of National Family Health Survey (2005-06). Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate techniques are used to justify the objectives. Different indices have created to show women empowerment in the region, and it is found that women were empowered in terms of decision making. Having own money and mobility among women is still far behind. The proportion of using any ANC is quite high but utilization of full ANC in very low among women in the region. Empowerment status is not directly hindered in use of health care services but lack of own money and mobility is a disadvantageous aspect. Region as a whole, proportion of institutional delivery and delivery by health professional is fairly uncommon.