Utilization and perception of health services under Janani Suraksha Yojna among mother in a rural area of Ambala district, Haryana

Abstract

Background: Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) is an ambitious scheme serving as a safe motherhood intervention and was launched under National Rural Health Mission on 12th April 2005. It is a cash incentive-based program to promote institutional deliveries. The main objective of this scheme was to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Objective: To study the utilization of health services by mothers during antenatal, natal and postnatal period under JSY. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 beneficiaries under JSY residing in the rural area of district Ambala, Haryana. A predesigned, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Result: Majority 73.5% mothers were registered after 12 weeks of pregnancy whereas 26.5% of them were registered within first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Around 14% mothers did not receive the recommended minimum three antenatal visits. The coverage of tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization was 95.5%. Majority 88.5% deliveries were institutional and home deliveries were about 11.5%. Majority of institutional deliveries were conducted in government hospital as compared to private hospital. Around 54.5% mothers received at least three or more postnatal care (PNC) visits. Only 25.5% mothers received cash benefits under JSY. Awareness and perception regarding JSY were low among mothers. Conclusion: The utilization and perception of JSY was found to be low in the study group. We are lacking behind the goal of 100% institutional deliveries, ANC, and PNC visits. There is scope for improvement such as awareness about JSY benefits.