Urban poor population constitutes nearly one third of India’s urban population. Health status among urban slum dwellers is poor and far from adequate, due to factors like inadequate reach of services. The health of mothers is mostly regarded as an indicator of the health of the society. Globally, more than half a million women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. A large proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur during the first 48 hours after delivery. The postpartum period is also a period of transition when many women initiate new behaviors. However, the opportunity to provide health care during this critical period is often missed. Not only is the highest concentration of maternal and children’s health at the time of delivery and immediately thereafter, but both mortality and morbidity for the mother and newborn continue to be relatively high during the first week and up to four weeks postpartum.

Maternal health services are often either not available, or they are not used in the postpartum period. Reasons for lack of use are multiple. There is a very urgent need to focus on the immediate postpartum period for both the mother and newborn. The objective of the present study was to assess the utilization of maternal health care services by recently delivered women in urban slums of Udumalpet Taluk during their last pregnancy. Therefore, keeping this in view, this study was undertaken to assess the factors responsible for utilization of antenatal maternal health services in slum areas.

KEY WORDS: Maternal Health, Maternal Healthcare Services, Slum Women.