Antenatal Care (ANC) Coverage, Health Infrastructure, and Postnatal Care (PNC) Services Utilization: A District Level Analysis of Punjab-Pakistan

Authors

  • Seemab Gillani Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Tusawar Iftikhar Ahmad The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
  • Feng Wang Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Muhammad Nouman Shafiq Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52131/joe.2021.0303.0047

Keywords:

PNC, ANC, Foreign remittances, Health infrastructure, Districts of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Awareness of receiving postnatal care is uncommon in Punjab (Pakistan) and supply-side is also unfortunate. Sufficient uptake of PNC may helpful in reducing maternal mortality. Thus, this study explored the demand and supply-side determinants of maternal health (utilization of PNC) care for 35 districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Percentage of women of reproductive ages using PNC services in the 35 districts of Punjab was the outcome variable. While, ANC utilization, adult literacy rate, household wealth, physical infrastructure had been considered as the explanatory variables. Secondary data were obtained from Punjab Development Statistics reports from the years 2010 to 2016. Pooled ordinary least square (OLS) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) were applied as estimation techniques. It was found that the percentage of women of reproductive ages using ANC services (0.662, p < 0.01), the percentage of households receiving remittances from abroad (0.570, p < 0.01), the percentage of households having access to improved sanitation facilities (0.569, p < 0.01), the percentage of households having their own houses (0.530, p < 0.05), and district-based health infrastructure index (0.237, p < 0.05) had strong positive and significant impact on PNC utilization. The study concluded that district-based targets relating to PNC coverage could be achieved by intervening through ANC utilization behavior, household wealth (remittances receipts), and through the provision of infrastructure (healthcare, sanitation) to the residents of the district. Need to ensure the availability and accessibility of PNC in order to reduce the health disparities among the districts of Punjab.

Author Biographies

Seemab Gillani, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

PhD Scholar, School of Economics and Finance

Tusawar Iftikhar Ahmad, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Assistant Professor, Department of Economics

Feng Wang, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

Professor, School of Economics and Finance

Muhammad Nouman Shafiq, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

PhD Scholar, School of Economics and Finance

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Published

2021-12-29

How to Cite

Gillani, S., Ahmad, T. I. ., Wang, F. ., & Shafiq, M. N. . (2021). Antenatal Care (ANC) Coverage, Health Infrastructure, and Postnatal Care (PNC) Services Utilization: A District Level Analysis of Punjab-Pakistan. IRASD Journal of Economics, 3(3), 318 – 331. https://doi.org/10.52131/joe.2021.0303.0047