Unveiling maternal and child health situation: a survey among women attending antenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Maternal and child health (MCH) is a cornerstone of public health, yet comprehensive data on antenatal care, child health practices, and delivery outcomes remain limited in Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the MCH situation among women attending a tertiary care hospital. Methods & Material: Data on sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive history, child care practices, antenatal visits, and delivery outcomes were collected using structured interviews and analyzed descriptively. Results: The mean age of respondents was 26.56 ± 4.7 years, with 83.5% aged 17-30 years. Most women had secondary (35.0%) or primary (33.7%) education. Housewives constituted 93.0% of the participants, and 82.2% had 1-2 children. Nuclear (47.0%) and joint (46.3%) families were common. Regarding socioeconomic status, 44.1% belonged to the upper class and 41.5% to the middle class, with a mean monthly household income of BDT 22,998.91 ± 11,641.31. Almost all youngest children (99.3%) were under five years old (mean 33.95 ± 13.99 months), with 53.3% males. Colostrum feeding was reported in 97.2% of cases. Complete immunization was observed in 90.2%, while 5.2% of families experienced child death in the last five years, mainly due to pneumonia and unknown causes. Conclusion: Most women accessed antenatal care and institutional delivery, with high rates of colostrum feeding and child immunization. However, gaps in antenatal coverage, home deliveries, and child mortality highlight areas for targeted interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Bangladesh.