Is Maternal and Child Health Care Services really Preventing the Newborn Death in India: Evidence from India

India has made significant progress toward attainment of reduction in infant and child mortality – still, the levels remain very high as compared to the developed nation. Using the third round of National Family Health... [ view full abstract ]

India has made significant progress toward attainment of reduction in infant and child mortality – still, the levels remain very high as compared to the developed nation. Using the third round of National Family Health Survey data, this study examine the effect of maternal health care utilization (antenatal care, safe delivery and post-natal care) on early neonatal, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in India. Descriptive statistics and multivariate techniques have been used to fulfill the aforesaid objective. Results show that early neonatal, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality is 25, 19 and 11 per thousand live births respectively. Antenatal care and postnatal care has a significant impact on early neonatal and neonatal mortality, however, safe delivery is positively associated with the early neonatal and neonatal mortality. The risk of early neonatal and neonatal mortality is higher among those deliveries conducted in the public or private institutions than delivery conducted at home. The number of lives lost in the early neonatal and late neonatal period exceeds that of any other period. There is a need to be more focus on utilization of MCH services to sustains gains in mortality in the newborn period and achieve the sustainable development goals.