Patna: The study by the Centre for Health and Resource Management (CHARM) to examine the extent of exclusion among Muslims in Bihar in terms of accessibility to health services has revealed that only 42% Muslims go for treatment to any government hospital.
The study was conducted in six blocks of Nalanda, Patna and Sitamarhi districts.
Importantly, more than half of pregnant Muslim women are delivering at their homes and not at any health institution due to the fact that doctors and nurses at the institution do not behave with them properly.Other reasons cited for attendance at gov hospitals were traditional barrier among the community and distance of hospital and lack of transport facility.
However, 49% Muslim women respondents said ANMs or ASHA workers did not pay a visit to their households before delivery.It may be noted here that all pregnant women are required to undergo at least three antenatal check-ups.
As the cost of treatment has risen and for many it has become unaffordable and this has forced about three-fourth of the respondents to borrow money from local moneylenders for treatment. The study also points to lack of ambulance services as almost 84% mothers said they had to use a private vehicle to get their child admitted to a hospital.