Dissertation Abstract
A Study to Assess the Practice and Utilization of e-Health Initiative- “KILKARI” for Antenatal and Vaccination under RCH Programme at Dudu Block, Jaipur District, Rajasthan
Dr. Jitendra Kumar Bagria1 and Dr. Ramachandra Rao Sathuluri2
1PGDPHM 2017-2018, NIHFW, Munirka, New Delhi, 110067
2Reader, Department of Reproductive Biomedicine, NIHFW, Munirka, New Delhi 110067
Introduction: To provide health information with regard to antenatal care and vaccination to the pregnant women and mothers of children age up to 1 year, an e-Health initiative KILKARI was launched by MOHFW on 15th January 2016 in 6 states including Rajasthan. To avail the KILKARI scheme, one has to register with MCTS. Then participants star receiving weekly, free, and pre-recorded audio health messages on their mobiles. Therefore, it was of interest to assess KILKARI’s practice and utilization among participants and this becomes Objective of the study.
Methodology: A descriptive and interview-based study was conducted in Dudu Block of Jaipur district, Rajasthan and interviewed 166 participants. Of them, 82 were pregnant women and rest were mothers of children.
Results: The study revealed that around 2/3rd of participants had a personal phone, rest has shared one. Thirty-seven percent participants listened to the audio messages completely rest hang-up after listening partially. Of the 166 participants, 80% understood the language of messages, while 67% understood the content. Further, over 3/4th of the participants were satisfied with the numbers and duration of the messages. It was also found that nearly 74% of the participants felt that audio messages receive are of importance to them and also motivated to follow instructions. In addition, it was also found that over 80% of the beneficiaries utilized the services of the health facilities by this scheme. This was a great outcome of the scheme.
Conclusions: Registration of the pregnant women with MCTS is a necessary prerequisite to avail the service. In the end, in my opinion, to avail the benefits of KILKARI, availability of mobile, content language and content of messages needs to be addressed. The other suggestion should focus on awareness of this scheme among public & health workers by proper advertising.