Health systems in India (original) (raw)
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Health systems and polices have a critical role in determining the manner in which health services are delivered, utilized and affect health outcomes. 'Health' being a state subject, despite the issuance of the guidelines by the central government, the final prerogative on implementation of the initiatives on newborn care lies with the states. This article briefly describes the public health structure in the country and traces the evolution of the major health programs and initiatives with a particular focus on newborn health.
Newborn healthcare in urban India
The rapid population growth in urban India has outpaced the municipal capacity to build essential infrastructures that make life in cities safe and healthy. Local and national governments alike are grappling with the challenges of urbanization with thousands migrating from villages to cities. Thus, urbanization in India has been accompanied by a concentration of poverty and urban public healthcare has emerged as one of the most pressing priorities facing our country. Newborn mortality rates in urban settings are lower than rural areas, early neonatal deaths account for greater proportion than late neonatal deaths. The available evidence suggests that socio-economic inequalities and poor environment pose major challenges for newborn health. Moreover, fragmented and weak public health system, multiplicity of actors and limited capacity of public health planning further constrain the delivery of quality and affordable health care service. Though healthcare is concentrated in urban areas, delay in deciding to seek health care, reaching a source of it and receiving appropriate care affects the health outcomes disproportionately. However, a few city initiatives and innovations piloted in different states and cities have brought forth the evidences of effectiveness of different strategies. Recently launched National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) provides an opportunity for strategic thinking and actions to improve newborn health outcomes in India. There is also an opportunity for coalescence of activities around National Health Mission (NHM) and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health+Adolescent (RMNCH+A) strategy to develop feasible and workable models in different urban settings. Concomitant operational research needs to be carried out so that the obstacles, approaches and response to the program can be understood.
The status of infant health in India
Health, 2013
This paper investigates the present status of infant health in India through percentages of infants who are undernourished, not immunized or diseased and finds its relationship with socio-demographic variables. The relevant data have been obtained from the Third National Family Health Survey which was carried out in 2005-2006 in India. The sample consists of 7562 infants (i.e., children of less than 1 year). For socio-demographic data, places of residence, sex of infants, ethnic composition, religion and wealth index were considered. Considering the different types of under-nutrition, it has been found from our data that the percentages of undernourished infants range from 22 to 28 only. There are considerable variations in the different types of immunization status ranging from 17.9% opting for measles vaccination to 73.2% taking BCG vaccination. Prevalence of morbidity also varies from 15 to 22 percent depending on the three types of morbidity considered in this paper. Among the socioeconomic variables, mother's education and wealth index have been found to have profound effect on the nutritional status and also on morbidity of infants but there is no impact found on the status immunization. Thus it gives clear cut indications for the government and NGOs to take actions to ameliorate poverty and to improve the level of education, especially of female population in India.
doi:10.4236/health.2013.58A4003 The status of infant health in India
2016
Copyright © 2013 Susmita Bharati et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This paper investigates the present status of infant health in India through percentages of infants who are undernourished, not immunized or diseased and finds its relationship with so-cio-demographic variables. The relevant data have been obtained from the Third National Family Health Survey which was carried out in 2005-2006 in India. The sample consists of 7562 infants (i.e., children of less than 1 year). For socio-demographic data, places of residence, sex of infants, ethnic composition, religion and wealth index were considered. Considering the different types of under-nutrition, it has been found from our data that the percentages of undernourished infants range from 22 to 28 only. There are considerable variations in the dif...
2023
Introduction: In the marginalised countries most neglected health issue is Newborn mortality. A study was undertaken to assess the influence of factors and newborn care practices influencing newborn health in the rural area of Bareilly district. Methodology: The Descriptive crosssectional study was organized in the rural areas of Bareilly. Study participants were selected based on the mothers who gave birth to a baby during the last six months. The mothers who delivered in that area within six months were included, and using the semi-structured questionnaire, data was collected. Data analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 2021 version for windows. Results: Mothers initiating early breastfeeding were more commonly 78 (52.3%) observed in the younger mothers at 24-29 years, followed by 48(32.3%) at 30-35 years, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Delayed bathing was observed in nearly 125 (70.1%) three fourth in the age of 24-29 years, followed by 29 (16.8%) in the age period 30-35 years. It was observed that unsafe cord care practices were observed more among 8(53.4%) nuclear families than 7(46.6%) joint families, and it was found to be statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The practice of essential newborn care still needs to improve in Bareilly; there is a need to create awareness to the mothers and family members on newborn and early neonatal care aspects, such as promoting exclusive and early initiation of breastfeeding and delayed bathing practices.
Indian Journal of Public Health , 2011
The main objective of the study is to identify the availability of infrastructure facility, human resources, investigative services, and facility based newborn care services with respect to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) at community health centers (CHC) of Bharatpur District of Rajasthan State. Data were collected from service providers at CHC through well structured questionnaire at thirteen CHCs situated at Bharatpur District of Rajasthan State. It was found that infrastructure facilities were available in almost all the CHCs, but shortage of manpower especially specialists was observed. Availability of investigative services was found quite satisfactory except ECG. It was also observed that none of the CHCs have fully equipped facility based newborn care services (including newborn corner and newborn care stabilization unit). As per IPHS suggested in the revised draft (2010) important defi ciencies were revealed in the studied CHCs of Bharatpur district and by additional inputs such as recruiting staff, improving infrastructure facilities, CHCs can be upgraded.