Promoting the Utilization of Antenatal and Postnatal Care in Rural Cambodia

Kaoru Ishiguro

Abstract
Mortality rates among mothers and neonates are high in Cambodia, and the government has created an initiative to reduce them. Antenatal and postnatal care services are key to this reduction; thus, this study empirically elucidated factors for promoting antenatal and postnatal care in rural Cambodia. Interviews were conducted with 283 mothers, who were asked about their attendance at antenatal and postnatal care. Data were analyzed through logistic regression, and determinants that impact respondents’ attendance were examined. This study found that antenatal care is impacted by age, number of children, household size and income, and access to information. However, she is less likely to attend antenatal care if she is involved in certain social groups. A mother is more likely to attend postnatal care if she is older, has fewer children, delivered her baby at a public health center, and received information from the village head. Social capital and unequal access to sources of information impact women’s attendance.

Keywords
antenatal and postnatal care, access to pregnancy information sources, social capital, rural Cambodia