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@article{188520,
        author = {Dr. Muktarani Purohit},
        title = {Factors Associated with Underutilization of Antenatal Care in Odisha, India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using the Data from NFHS-5(2019-21)},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {7},
        pages = {2712-2725},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=188520},
        abstract = {World Health Organization (WHO) revised its guidelines in 2016 to recommend a minimum of eight Antenatal Care contacts to ensure a positive pregnancy experience, despite recommendations, adherence to this schedule remains low among women in low and middle- income countries. In light of these updated standards, understanding the factors that influence ANC utilization becomes crucial for informing targeted interventions and policy reforms. Unit level data from the latest 5th round of the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) has been used for this study. This analysis includes the most recent live births among women aged 15-49 years over the past five years (N = 7141) This study has taken adequate ANC visits that is eight and more than eight visits to the health care facility as the outcome variable. Based on Andersen’s behavioral model, ten factors have been identified as potential explanatory variables. Multivariate analysis in this study indicates that women with lower levels of formal education from poorer households and residing in rural areas have higher odds of inadequate antenatal care visits. The logistic model shows that Mother's Education, Household Wealth Index, Birth Order, Distance, Insurance, and Pregnancy Intention are significant predictors of the outcome while Caste, Religion, and Sector are not statistically significant. Considering the WHO’s new guidelines, our analysis reveals a serious underutilization of ANC.  This study suggested, infrastructure development, education and poverty reduction initiatives should be pursued in order to enhance maternal health and access to prenatal care services.},
        keywords = {Antenatal Care, NFHS, Multivariate analysis, Logistic model},
        month = {December},
        }