Level of awareness and utilization of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme among antenatal and postnatal women

<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>BACKGROUND:</bold> India has a very high population that is still growing. This has increased the demand for basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, education, and health facilities. This increased demand has adversely affected the low socioeconomic class population, especially maternal and child/infant health. This led to an increased prevalence of maternal and infant mortality rates. High maternal and infant mortality in poor and developing countries shows that healthcare availability and accessibility are key to nation-building. In India, the maternal mortality ratio reduced from 130 per 100,000 live births in SRS 2014–2016 to 113 per 100,000 live births in SRS 2016–2018, as reported by the Registrar General of India (RGI). There are various healthcare schemes at both central and state levels to improve maternal and infant health. One such scheme is the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, which was launched in 1987 with the avowed aim of reducing the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio. Under this scheme, the government provides financial assistance to poor women during maternity. <bold>OBJECTIVES:</bold> To study the level of awareness and utilization of the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme among antenatal and postnatal women at RSRM Hospital. <bold>METHODS:</bold> A cross-sectional study was conducted among antenatal and postnatal women attending RSRM Hospital, Washermenpet, from July 2022 to September 2022. A total of 147 participants were included using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire comprising sociodemographic details, awareness about the MRMBS scheme, and utilization status. Data were entered into MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation, while categorical variables were expressed as percentages. <bold>RESULTS:</bold> Among the 147 study participants, 72.1% were aware of MRMBS, and 72.6% of those who were aware utilized the scheme. The Village Health Nurse was the primary source of information regarding the scheme (75.5%). Ignorance (62.1%) and improper knowledge regarding registration (34.5%) were the major reasons for non-utilization. No statistically significant association was found between awareness or utilization and sociodemographic variables. <bold>CONCLUSION:</bold> Overall awareness of the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme was found to be good among the study participants. However, a lack of knowledge regarding eligibility criteria and registration procedures affected utilization. Strengthening awareness activities and providing guidance regarding registration may improve utilization among eligible mothers. </p>