Year: 2026 | Month: July | Volume: 13 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 433-441
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260745
Bridging the Gap: Access to Maternal Healthcare Services and Infant Mortality Reduction in Tribal Communities Under Sustainable Development Goal Framework
Deepak Kumar Naik1, Dr. Snigdha rani Panda2, Dr. Snehalata Das3, Bishnu Naik4
1Research Scholar, School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM), Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,751024, India
2Associate Professor, School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM), Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,751024, India
3Assistant Professor, School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM), Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,751024, India
4Research Scholar, School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM), Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,751024, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Snigdha Rani Panda
ABSTRACT
Infant mortality is an important public health issue and plays a key role in fulfilling SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Quality maternal health services at all levels, such as antenatal care (ANC), skilled birth attendance, institutional delivery, and postnatal services, are necessary for maternal and newborn survival, especially for vulnerable tribal communities. This study attempts to examine the relationship between access to maternal health care and infant mortality reduction among tribal population of Kendujhar District of Odisha, India. This study used descriptive cross sectional research design with primary data obtained through a structured questionnaire and the respondents were 400 people. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of the data including frequencies and percentages. The results reveal that 39.25% of respondents did not receive antenatal care services in their last pregnancies and 60.75% received antenatal care services in their last pregnancies. Indeed, among ANC users, only 20.2% attended 4 or more ANC visits, while 30.0% attended the second and the third ANC visits. The achievement of the study's objectives also revealed that several barriers, including lack of access to health care, geographical isolation, limited transport facilities, and socioeconomic issues, still hinder the use of maternal health services in tribal areas. The results indicate that greater use of maternal health care services is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, which could have an impact on infant mortality. The study identifies the need to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, expand community awareness, enhance transportation infrastructure, and promote the full utilization of maternal health care services to achieve equitable maternal and child health outcomes. These measures will help achieve SDG 3 by preventing maternal and infant mortality and promoting the health and well-being of tribal people.
Keywords: Maternal healthcare, Infant mortality, Antenatal care, Tribal communities, Maternal health services, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Odisha.
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