Utilization of antenatal services in apparel manufacturing factories in Bangalore

The apparel manufacturing industry in Karnataka has assumed gigantic proportions. A large majority of the workers in this industry are women in the reproductive age group. Some companies have recognized this situation and are taking proactive steps in providing a range of services to the women employees. The objective of this study was to identify the outcomes of the services that are provided to the pregnant women in seven factories belonging to one such company. The study attempted to contact all registered pregnant women who had returned to work, in an attempt to identify the positive features and lacunae in the services that were provided. The results showed that half the workers who had been provided services in the antenatal period had not returned to work. A majority of the workers had availed of adequate antenatal care and most of them had delivered in the local Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital. Knowledge of antenatal care was generally good and most information had been received from the Health Care Providers (HCPs). The positive role of the HCPs in these factories has to be recognized and they should be provided with adequate support and training to perform their functions optimally.