“Breaking Fear, Building Trust” – A High-Risk Mother’s Journey from Superstition to Safe Motherhood in Remote Mhatardari Hamlet

Background

Mhatardari is a small, remote hamlet in the village of Taleghar, located in Ambegaon Taluka of Pune District. The area is surrounded by hilly terrain and inhabited mainly by tribal families. Although Taleghar has a Rural Hospital (RH) and a PHC facility, access to healthcare remains difficult for many families living in interior hamlets due to poor transportation, limited awareness, strong traditional beliefs, and reliance on local faith healers.

In emergencies, villagers often travel long distances on foot because private vehicles and motorcycles are not always available in time. Because of low awareness and deep-rooted superstitions, many women delay antenatal registration and avoid institutional healthcare services during pregnancy.

This case highlights the importance of community-based maternal health interventions and the dedicated efforts of frontline teams under the Infosys Foundation Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Project implemented by KEMHRC.

Case Description

A 34-year-old pregnant woman from Mhatardari hamlet was identified during routine field follow-up by the KEMHRC Field Supervisor. Initially, the family had hidden the pregnancy and refused to register her at the PHC despite her being already five months pregnant.

The woman had a high risk obstetric history:

• G6 pregnancy
• History of 2 spontaneous abortions
• 3 live births
• One baby girl had died at the age of seven months due to illness

The family had not taken the sick child to the hospital at that time. Instead, they relied on home remedies and visited a local Tantrik Baba because of traditional beliefs and fear of hospitals.

When the woman conceived again, the family strongly refused ANC registration because of the belief that informing outsiders about pregnancy before the sixth month could bring bad luck or pregnancy loss. The beneficiary herself also had a hospital phobia and avoided contact with health services.

Identification of High-Risk Pregnancy

During a home visit, the Field Supervisor conducted preliminary counselling and a basic health assessment. Considering:

• Previous abortions
• History of infant death
• Delayed ANC registration
• Psychological fear and avoidance of healthcare
• Poor maternal awareness

The pregnancy was identified as a high-risk case requiring urgent follow-up and linkage with the PHC system.

Intervention by KEMHRC Team

Although Taleghar does not have an Arogyakuti facility due to the availability of RH and PHC services, the KEMHRC Field Supervisor took continuous efforts at the community level to ensure maternal care.

The Field Supervisor, along with the ASHA Worker and Anganwadi Sevika:

• Conducted repeated home visits
• Built rapport and trust with the family
• Counselled the beneficiary and her husband regarding a safe pregnancy
• Explained the importance of ANC registration and regular check-ups
• Addressed myths and superstitions related to pregnancy
• Motivated the family through health awareness sessions
• Provided information about government maternal health services
• Encouraged institutional care and timely follow-up

Instead of forcing immediate registration, the team patiently worked with the family’s fears and beliefs. Continuous counselling and supportive communication gradually helped the family gain confidence in the healthcare system.

After sustained efforts by the Field Supervisor and ASHA worker, the beneficiary finally agreed to register herself at both the Anganwadi and PHC.

Change Observed

Over time, significant positive changes were observed:

• The beneficiary became more open to discussing her health concerns
• She started attending antenatal follow-up visits
• Her awareness regarding nutrition, pregnancy care, and maternal health improved
• The family’s fear regarding hospitals gradually reduced
• She developed trust in healthcare providers and the MCH project team
• The husband and family members also became more supportive towards institutional healthcare

The beneficiary is now in her third trimester and is under regular antenatal follow-up.

Impact

This case clearly demonstrates how consistent counselling, trust-building, and community-level engagement can transform healthcare behaviour even in highly vulnerable and remote tribal communities.

The intervention:

• Helped prevent delayed maternal care
• Successfully linked a high-risk ANC to formal healthcare services
• Improved awareness regarding maternal and child health
• Reduced fear and misconceptions related to hospitals
• Strengthened coordination between the community and public health system

The beneficiary herself shared that if such awareness and support had been available earlier, she might not have suffered repeated pregnancy complications and the loss of her child.

She expressed heartfelt gratitude towards KEMHRC, the Infosys Foundation MCH Project, the ASHA Worker, Anganwadi Sevika, and the Field Supervisor for their continuous support and guidance.

Conclusion

This case highlights the critical need for maternal and child health interventions in remote tribal areas where healthcare awareness remains limited and cultural beliefs continue to influence health-seeking behaviour.

The dedicated efforts of the KEMHRC Field Supervisor, ASHA Worker, and Anganwadi Sevika helped transform fear into trust and ensured the timely linkage of a high-risk mother with essential healthcare services.

The case strongly reflects the importance of:

• Last-mile healthcare outreach
• Continuous counselling and follow-up
• Community trust-building
• Maternal health awareness in tribal populations

It also demonstrates that projects like the Infosys Foundation MCH initiative are not only improving healthcare access but are also changing mindsets and saving lives in underserved communities.

“When healthcare reaches with patience, trust, and compassion, even fear can turn into hope.”