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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
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Influence of Women's Knowledge on Maternal Health Care Utilization in Southern Laos

Chandavone Phoxay, MD

Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

Junko Okumura, MPH, PhD

Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

Yasuhide Nakamura, MD, PhD

Department of International Collaboration, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

Susumu Wakai, MD, PhD

Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, swakai{at}m.u-tokyo.ac.jp

This study aims to clarify women's knowledge on obstetric care and to analyse the situation of maternal health care (MHC) utilization in southern Laos. Face to face structured questionnaire and focus group discussions were carried out for 205 mothers aged 29.6 ± 6.7 who had children under the age of five. Three measurements of MHC utilization comprised: 1) antenatal care (ANC), 2) tetanus toxoid (TT) inoculation, and 3) attendance delivery by health professional. Women's knowledge on obstetric care was scored. Women's knowledge was positively correlated with ANC and TT inoculation. It was found that the women with strong superstitious belief were less likely to utilize all three types of MHC than the others. Accessibility to health care facilities strongly affected ANC and attendance delivery. Enhancing women's knowledge on obstetric care and reducing barriers related with sociocultural beliefs are essential to improving maternal health in southern Laos. Asia Pac J Public Health 2001;13(1):13-19

Key Words: Women • knowledge • behaviour • maternal health care utilization • Laos.

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 13, No. 1, 13-19 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/101053950101300104
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