Utilization of Maternal and Child Health Care Interventions by Rural Poor Mothers of Jammu and Kashmir State of India

The Present study was conducted to understand the governmental health care interventions utilized by the rural mothers belonging to Below Poverty Line Families (BPL) of Jammu District of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The objectives of the study were to assess the maternal and child health care practices followed by mothers during (a) Pre-natal period (b) Post-natal period (c) Infancy and early childhood; to know the awareness of mothers regarding various schemes implemented by the Government for welfare of women and children belonging to below poverty line families, and to know the utilization of maternal and child health care services by the mothers during their pregnancy and child care. The sample consisted of sixty mothers in the age group of 20 -25 years belonging to BPL families of Bishnah block of Jammu District, having a child in the age group of 0-3 years. The results revealed that most of the mothers followed many traditional practices during pregnancy and child rearing. They had immunized themselves and their children and had utilized the health services for post-natal consultation, though the immunization advice was not available to all of them. Most of the mothers preferred delivery in the hospitals. The children were mostly breast fed and weaning was done after six months of the birth. The mothers were not aware of many governmental schemes for maternal and child health even though they were availing benefits of these, due to interventions from health care workers. Department of Home Science (Human Development), University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India. *Corresponding Email: neerusha@gmail.com The grass root level health worker under the National Health Mission, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist), was delivering her services in these areas, as per the information provided by the respondents. She had prepared their health cards and was helping them in utilization of health care facilities during pregnancy and child birth. The other health providers consulted and health benefits received were also mentioned by the respondents. In spite of this most of the respondents appeared anaemic. Based on the findings, strategies have been suggested for the better coverage and utilization of health facility by the Below Poverty Line women.