Utilisation of Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram Services in the State of Telangana: A Rural–Urban Comparison

Abstract

Background: Maternal and infant mortality remains one of the concerns in India, even in high-performing states like Telangana. However, the urban–rural divide in the maternal and child health service provided and utilisation by the population is more concerning. The Government of India launched schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) to improve institutional delivery and reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure of users seeking service at public institutions and private institutions facilities. This study aims to study the utilisation of one such service, that is, JSSK, and compare it in urban and rural areas of Telangana state. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Warangal and Ranga Reddy districts in the state of Telangana with an interview schedule administered to mothers who had at least one child at the time of the interview and were beneficiaries of JSY and JSSK from the previous delivery. A multistage cluster random sampling was used to select the study area, and a total of 408 respondents were chosen to participate in the study. Results: The study found that most facility characteristics related to maternal and child health, JSSK service availability and JSSK service satisfaction and awareness were significantly different across the urban and rural areas. Conclusion: The study found that crucial factors affecting respondents’ services utilisation differed across urban and rural areas. This study shows there is still a margin of improvement in services provided under the JSY and JSSK, especially in service availability and awareness of the population on their entitlements under these schemes.