Young women's choice between traditional and modern health practices for maternal healthcare within Tharu community in Uttar Pradesh

Introduction: Availability of modern healthcare services in tribal villages doesn't ensure its independent usage by the tribes. Young women in Tharu tribal community with their predefined pathways of traditional healthcare practices, tend to follow a mix of traditional and modern health services for their maternal healthcare. The study focuses on preferences of Tharu women for traditional and/or modern healthcare systems in their pregnancy, delivery and postnatal durations. Methods: Present research is an empirical study exploring health practices followed by young women in Tharu tribe in their pregnancy, delivery and postnatal durations. 104 Tharu women in postnatal durations from 18 villages of Tarai districts of Uttar Pradesh were interviewed regarding their health approach during pregnancy, delivery and postnatal duration. Data was analysed through Binary logistic regression. Results: Traditional healthcare practices prevalent in Tharu community are more approachable for some Tharu women while among women with higher education levels (OR = 1.457, Sig = 0.008) and tertiary occupations (OR = 2.148; Sig = 0.027), modern healthcare services seemed more approachable. Tharu women of lower age use more services of modern healthcare (OR = 1.237; Sig = 0.017). Tharu women living in joint families practiced postnatal confinement more than those living in nuclear families (OR = 2.469; sig = 0.003). Decision for home or institutional delivery taken by respondent was associated with their education level, occupation and type of family they lived in. Conclusions: Young Tharu women decide for traditional and/or modern healthcare services as per the reach of these services within the community and as perceived beneficial to them. Presence of traditional birth attendants and knowledgeable native healers in Tharu community instil the desire in women for more comfortable family and community level healthcare practices. Tharu women hence, use any one or both systems of healthcare to keep themselves and their child healthy. Increased utilization of modern healthcare services and revival of traditional healthcare practices through capacity building and skill upgrading of traditional birth attendants and native healers in Tharu community would contribute to improved maternal health of Tharu women.