Child survival and safe motherhood program in Rajasthan

Type Journal Article - Indian journal of pediatrics
Title Child survival and safe motherhood program in Rajasthan
Author(s)
Volume 73
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2006
Page numbers 43-47
URL http://medind.nic.in/icb/t06/i1/icbt06i1p43.pdf
Abstract
Objective : This study was planned to evaluate the MCH services, particularly immunization in rural areas of the poor-performing state of Rajasthan. Methods : A community-based, cross-sectional survey using the WHO 30 cluster technique was carried out as a field exercise by participants of 9th Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) course by National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in rural areas of Alwar district of Rajasthan. Results : Less than one third (28.9%) of children, aged 12-23 months, were fully immunized with BCG, 3 DPT, 3 OPV and Measles vaccines; around a quarter (26.5%) had not received even a single vaccine (non immunized), and little less than half (44.5%) were found partially immunized. Around half of the eligible children were vaccinated for BCG (55.9%) and Measles (43.6%). Though nearly two-third (66.8%) were covered with first dose of DPT and OPV, but about one third of these children dropped out of third dose of DPT and OPV for various reasons. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data also had revealed that BCG coverage was 64.3%; measles was 36.2%; and coverage by DPT 1, 2, 3 and Polio 1,2 and 3 were 64.4%, 5 7 . 0%, 4 6 . 6% a n d 7 7 . 5%, 7 1 . 1% a n d 5 4 . 4% r e s p e c t i v e l y i n r u r a l a r e a s . T h e ma i n r e a s o n s f o r d r o p - o u t o r n o n ­ immunization was “lack of information about the immunization programme” (41.3%). Though nearly all (more than 96%) of the children were immunized through Government established centers, but immunization cards/documents were made available only to 27.6% of children. Conclusion : The problem of low coverage and high drop-out rate of immunization could be overcome by creating awareness of the program and relevance of 2nd and 3rd doses of DPT and polio vaccines. Increasing community participation through intensive and extensive health education campaign should also be undertaken. Since most of the deliveries were done at home under the supervision of untrained midwives, training programme as wel

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