Equity in maternal and child health in Myanmar: benefit incidence analysis on utilization of health services

Utilization of maternal and child health services plays a crucial role in preventing pregnancy related deaths and child deaths. High levels of maternal and child mortalities are remaining as public health problems in Myanmar. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of socio-economic and geographical factors on utilization of maternal and child health services at public health facilities in Myanmar, and analyze the levels of benefit that go to the people in different wealth status. Secondary data analysis is conducted using maternal and child health data from Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) 2015- 16. Marginal effects of multinomial logistic regression for four outcomes (utilizations of antenatal care services, delivery services, diarrhea treatment and fever/cough treatment) are reported. Benefit incidence for above four services are also reported by percent distribution, concentration indices, dominance tests and Kakwani indices for progressivity of health subsidy. Results of the study show that higher level of antenatal care (ANC) and delivery service utilization at public health facilities is commonly associated with wealth status. Disparity among wealth quintiles is not common in child health service utilization. Even though all families are more or less equally benefitted from ANC services, richer people are more benefitted from delivery services at public health facilities. In child health services, poor families are more benefitted. Therefore, maintaining pro-poor child health services, policymakers and program implementers should improve maternal health service utilization among poor people and reduce disparities.