Abstract

The present paper is an attempt to answer the anthropological question, how the culture, social system, and economic context affect the practices and outcomes of maternal health in a state like Odisha. Based on the relevant literature, including ethnography and community health reports, the narrative reviews only the important issues concerning. The traditional practices of giving birth, family and community support, and community health reports. The results point to obvious deficiencies in the scope and quality of healthcare, especially in a rural setup, which calls for quick intervention through provision of culturally acceptable healthcare services. The paper examines the relationship between a broad ange of generic and biological, as well as environmental and lifestyle factors, such as maternal nutrition, stress, and environmental pollution, relating to prenatal and postnatal healthcare. Above all, the need for incorporating cultural and social dimensions into the healthcare strategies has been given emphasis.

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