Insights into Public-Private Sector Variations in Maternal Health Care Utilization in an Urban Slum in Mumbai

Introduction Understanding variations in maternal health across public and private sectors is essential for improving service delivery. This study aimed to (i) compare maternal health service utilization across public and private facilities in an urban slum of Mumbai, and (ii) assess switching between sectors during childbirth and factors influencing it. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to February 2024 among recently delivered women, selected through bi-monthly simple random sampling from health post and community health worker delivery records. Data were collected through household surveys and verification of health records. Variables included sociodemographic and obstetric profiles, core indicators of the antenatal care (ANC) process, delivery characteristics, and postnatal practices. Switching patterns between the registration sector and the place of delivery were assessed. Analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results A total of 283 women were enrolled through systematic bi-monthly simple random sampling over the 12-month study period. Among them, 170 (60%) were registered in the public sector and 113 (40%) in the private sector. Higher maternal education (p