What he knows about her and how it affects her? Husband’s knowledge of pregnancy complications and maternal health care utilization among tribal population in Maharashtra, India

Abstract Background Husbands’ knowledge and awareness of pregnancy complications have a positive impact on their wives’ utilization of maternal health care services. In this study, we examined whether husbands’ knowledge and awareness of pregnancy complications can serve as determinants of maternal health service utilization among wives from the tribal population. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural Gadchrioli district of Maharashtra, India, during November 2014–March 2015. This study included a representative population-based sample of 385 men whose wives had given birth in last 2 years at the age of 15–49 years. A multistage sampling strategy was adopted to select the respondents. Univariate, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses were applied to examine the association between men’s knowledge and maternal health service utilization. Results The result revealed that an increase in husbands’ education level increased the wives’ utilization of antenatal (ANC) care services. The type of tribe also contributed to significant differences in ANC utilization (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 0.847–8.24). Regarding standard of living, husbands who were poor were 22% less likely than husbands in the rich category to report the utilization of ANC by their wives. Men with partial or complete knowledge of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum complications were more likely to utilize all maternal health services by their wives. Conclusions The wives are of men who aware of complications during pregnancy and childbirth are more likely to use maternal health services. Therefore, educating and empowering men about pregnancy complications will contribute to the reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths

Computerized tablet based versus traditional paper- based survey methods: results from adolescent's health research in schools of Maharashtra, India

Background and challenges to implementation Technological advancement is growing very fast in India and majority of young population is handling electronic devices often during leisure as well as at work. This study indicates that electronic tablets are less time consuming and improves survey response rate over the traditional paper-pencil survey method. Intervention or response An Android-based Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) questionnaire was used with the help of an Open Data Kit to assess adolescent's health. Effectiveness of tablet survey was tested in 15 public schools of Mumbai, India over traditional paper-pencil survey method. The questionnaire was administered in three different languages. Tablet and Paper surveys were simultaneously and alternatively used i.e. first tablet followed by paper pencil in one school and in next school, first paper and then tablet to balance uniformity in the survey method. Results and lessons learnt A total of 600 students aged 13-17 years were covered in the survey for this experimental study. Interestingly all sampled students participated in the survey. The overall response rate using tablet survey was higher than the paper based survey method. Average time taken to fill in the tablet survey was lesser as compared to the paper based survey. It is remarkable to state that missing values on paper for most variables were more as compared to the tablet. Most of the students favoured tablet method of data collection as they found it very user friendly, convenient, less human error while filling the answers and less time taking. Conclusions and key recommendations Use of electronic tablets for conducting public health surveys suggests an improved response rate and time saving as compared to traditional paper based survey methods. Thus, the present study strongly recommends that tablet method of data collection may be the best method and can be used as effective, economic and quick survey method in future