Maternal Healthcare Services in International Border Areas of Tawang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh:A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Healthcare is acknowledged as the basic fundamental human right. However, access to healthcare, particularly maternal healthcare is a major concern in India including the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The maternal healthcare remains critical in remote border areas due to difficult terrain, poor connectivity and long travel distances, limiting health‑systemservicesandtheir utilization. Thus, the paper is an attempt to depict the current scenario of maternal healthcareservicesat Sub Centre (SC) in Tawang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh, considering two parameters i.e. accessibility and availability.The study evaluated the geographical accessibility, service utilization and availability of infrastructure, human resources, essential equipment, drugs and consumables, and diagnostic services as a benchmarked against IPHS norms.The study is based with primary and secondary data collected from the healthcare providers and programme officials and government reports. The study found that the maternal healthcare delivery in these border districts is impeded by geographical isolation, infrastructure and institutional limitations, and human resource shortages at the SC level. Furthermore, low ANC registration (1^st Trimester Registration, and completion of four or more ANC visits) and institutional delivery suggest poor utilization of maternal healthcare services among women.Thus, the efforts should be made to strengthen the infrastructure facilities, SC staffs, training and supervision, and community engagement are essential to improve coverage, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and to advance Universal Health Coverage in these underserved international border areas.