This study was carried out during the year; 1995 to assess the atti¬tude & Practices of women-in child bearing period-towards the utilization of the available health services in Kalyoubia Govemorate. A randomly se¬lected 615 married women were the subjects of this study .55.1% from ru¬ral areas; Kafr-Shokr & Kafr-El-Gazar and the rest of the sample 44.9% from urban area: Benha city. The present study revealed that women liv¬ing in rural areas preferred the utilization of health facilities that could be reached on foot, in the morning and they preferred private clinics integrat¬ed with mosques; (MostawsaJ) (27.9%. 64.6% and 30.1% respectively). Rural women attitude in consultation of a pediatrician on occurrence of accidents & fever were representing (48.4% and 40.4% respectively). They consulted a gynecologist on complaining of vaginal bleeding (34.3%). Fe¬males residing urban areas could use vehicles easily on their afternoon visits and they preferred private clinics (56.5%, 60.7% and 31.5% respec¬tively).
They seek medical care for their children on occurrence of diarrhoea & vomiting and fever (37.7% and 35.5% respectively ). Half of them consult¬ed an obstetrician for delivery. It was found that educated women seek medical care immediately on perception of illness while illiterate women delayed consulation (91.4% and 61.5% respectively). They attributed their delay to high expenses of care. The majority of women (71.2%) were un¬satisfied with the available health services due to long waiting time, bad behavior of staff and bad quality or shortage of equipments. Hence, a well organized programme for optimum utilization of health services should be implemented through active community participation & inter¬sectoral collaboration.