Assessment of services available in public health facilities among high priority districts of Jharkhand under reproductive maternal newborn child health + adolescence

Abstract

Background: The reproductive maternal newborn child health + adolescence (RMNCH + A) strategy is based on the provision of comprehensive care through the five pillars, or thematic areas, of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, and is guided by central tenets of equity, universal care, entitlement, and accountability. This study aims to assess the services available in public health facilities among the selected high-priority districts (HPDs) of Jharkhand under RMNCH + A and also to compare the services available in public health facilities among different HPDs of Jharkhand under RMNCH + A. Materials and Methods: The proposed study was an observational study done by the Department of PSM/Community Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, with a total duration of the study (24 months) (April 2015–March 2017). Supportive supervision (SS) was conducted in the HPDs selected as Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Simdega of Jharkhand state. The Government of India SS checklist was used during the field visits as data collection tool. After visit, compiled report was prepared as observations. Results: The observations of the visits were done under three broad headings of health-care utilization, health system, and service delivery in a comparative manner for all the five HPDs. It was found that outpatient department numbers and deliveries of pregnant women were maximum at district hospitals. Some logistics such as comprehensive abortion care needs to be ensured at the health facilities. Immunization services were available in almost all the selected facilities. Supply of few drugs such as albendazole, salbutamol, and zinc needed to be ensured so that it can be served to the poor and deprived population of the selected districts. Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that under various public health facilities are available at different health centers of the state which are being utilized by the beneficiaries in huge numbers. Some facilities still need to be strengthened and some logistics availability needs to be ensured.