Assessment of quality maternal health care services at primary health care level in Kamrup district, Assam

Abstract

Reduction in maternal mortality rate (MMR) has been an articulated goal of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood (CSSM) Programme and Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme-II has incorporated evidence-based strategies in specific contexts to reduce the MMR. The provision of good quality care is the main thrust of the RCH programme. Greater emphasis is given to better quality of services, as compared to the previous National Family Planning Programme. The study had been conducted in 5 PHCs and 10 Sub-Centres to assess the quality of maternal health care services at Primary health care level. The study instruments were quality assessment checklists for PHCs and S/Cs. The data was collected from records, interviews of the health personnel and exit interview with the clients availing the maternal health care services and by observation methods. The quality of maternal health care services was assessed by three dimensions of quality measurement using a system approach—input, process and output. The quality of maternal health services was found to be average at primary health care level.