The aim of this study in Colombia was to analyze
the use of reproductive health services
(prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum)
according to women’s ethnicity, based on the
National Demographic and Health Survey for
2010. Ethnicity was self-reported (indigenous,
African-descendant, or neither), and logistic
models were performed for each service. The
use of reproductive health services was lower
among indigenous and African-descendant Colombian
women when compared to those that
did not declare their ethnicity. According to the
regression models, indigenous women showed
lower odds of having an adequate number of
prenatal visits (OR = 0.61), and the same was
true for African-descendant women. The same
situation prevailed for institutional childbirth
care: indigenous women (OR = 0.33) and
African-descendant women (OR = 0.60); and
postpartum follow-up: indigenous (OR = 0.80),
African-descendant (OR = 0.80). In conclusion,
there are inequities in the use of reproductive
health services by women belonging to ethnic
groups in Colombia, who should be targeted
with government strategies to guarantee their
right to health.