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Abstract
The place of delivery is crucial in determining the maternal health status and is a good indicator for assessing the demand for public health system. A large portion of Indian women, particularly in rural areas, do not go to an institution for their deliveries. This is a major reason for high maternal and neo natal mortality in rural areas. Place of delivery consists of institutional and home delivery. Institutional delivery would definitely reduce the maternal mortality rate (MMR). Institutional delivery is done in government hospital and in private hospital. In Kanyakumari district, no home delivery is found. The researcher selected the Kalkulam taluk in rural areas of Kanyakumari District. Four panchayats (two town panchayats and two village panchayats) were randomly selected and from which 120 respondents (30 respondents from each panchayat) were selected. Primary data were collected from the sample respondents by employing a well-structured interview schedule. Statistical tools like chi-square test and multiple regression were employed to assess the primary data. The aim of the study is to assess the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing women’s decision for choice of government hospitals and private hospitals in the rural areas of this taluk of the district and to make the MMR zero in the years to come in this taluk.