Socio-demographic and infrastructural variables influencing maternal risk concentration among ever-married women of reproductive age in rural West Bengal, India

Background: The risk of a woman dying as a result of pregnancy or childbirth during her lifetime is about one in six in the poorest parts of the world.

Objectives: The present study aims to determine prevalence of maternal risk and the influencing variables among ever-married women belonging to the reproductive age group (15-49) of Birbhum district, West Bengal.

Methods: A cohort-based retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out among the sample of 229 respondents through a purposive stratified random sampling method and a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire. The ordinal logistic regression (OLR) model was taken as a tool of assessment. Before developing the proportional OLR model, we have checked the multicollinearity effect among the predictors and the first-order effect modifier was evaluated as well. We performed data analysis using SPSS version 26.

Results: The result shows that illiterate women (Odds ratios [OR] = 2.81, 95% CI, 0.277-1.791), from lower standard of living (OR = 1.14, 95% CI, -0.845-1.116), married before the age of 15 years (OR = 21.96, 95% CI, -0.55-6.73) and between the age of 15-18 years (OR = 24.51. 95% CI, -0.45-6.85) are more likely to be affected by the higher concentration of maternal risk. Other important predictor is the time of pregnancy registration. Considering the transport and related en-route causalities, the result portraying a clear picture where the distance and travel time becoming significant factors in determining the concentration of maternal risk.

Conclusion: Incidences of child marriages should be restricted. Eradicating factors influencing an individual's decision to seek care would be an essential contribution in excluding the dominant maternal risk factors.