Exploratory Study on Maternal and Child Health Care Facilities in Two Districts of Karnataka State: A Health Systems Research

Introduction: Usually Perinatal Mortality Rate [PMR] constitutes a proportion of IMR. But in Karnataka State of India it is almost equal to IMR. A field based study exploring and comparing the Maternal and Child Health Care Facilities in a well-developed district and backward district of Karnataka State would help in understanding the reasons behind this. So, this study was undertaken. Objectives: 1]. To know the infrastructure and facilities that exist for the perinatal care in two districts of Karnataka. 2]. To know the deficiencies in Infrastructure and facilities if any in the 2 districts. Methodology: A Field based study was conducted in 2 districts of Karnataka State. Maternal and Child Health Care Units which met our criteria in Dakshina Kannada and Koppal Districts were included. Checklists were developed to evaluate the facilities present in these health care units. Trained field workers collected the data from the health care facilities of both the districts. The collected data was scrutinized by the investigators. Results are presented as frequencies and proportions in appropriate tables. This being a qualitative data, the implications have been explained. Results: Totally 63 and 65 Health care facilities met the criteria in Dakshina Kannada and Koppal Districts respectively. Dakshina Kannada District showed a predominance of Private Health Care Facilities [52 out of 63]. Koppal District showed a predominance of Public Health Care Facilities [40 out of 65]. The deficiencies in Health care facilities of both the districts increase the chance of Perinatal Deaths. Conclusion: This study helped in understanding the deficiencies in Health Care facilities. But studies exploring the functioning of these facilities and the Health care Personnel would be necessary.