Reproductive and Child Health Indicators at Primary Health Centers: A Trend of last four years and their comparison with National And State averages

BackgroundLarge amount of data is gathered by Community health centers but remain unanalyzed resulting in poor resource allocation and subsequent poor health outcomes. objectivesto study RCH indicators and compare them with NFHS and SFHS MethodsA record based study for 2017-2021 was carried out among all urban and rural primary health centers of Ahmedabad. RCH indicators were compiled and compared with NFHS and SFHS to draw conclusions about the performance of these centers. Resultsin all selected centers, in last 4 years, almost all women who registered pregnancy have come for ANC visits; home deliveries, Health Centre based Cesarean-section, Vasectomy and malnutrition along with Severe Acute Malnutrition has decreased. Female sterilization has remained same. Immunizations has remained satisfactorily. Newborn Mortality Rate, Neonatal Mortality Rate, Infant Mortality Rates, Under-5 Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality rates all have decreased. This results are similar in both Rural and Urban areas and are along the lines of recent NFHS and SFHS. It was particularly found that Data Management at various levels is faulty and there are mistakes in Data Collection, Data Gathering, Data Analysis and Data preserving. There is a visible difference between how Rural data is managed versus how Urban data is managed. ConclusionsValuable information is generated which can be utilized by local governing bodies. Better methodology and techniques are now a necessity for quality Data Recording, Management and Safe-keeping. Use of technology can reduce these limitations in the field and improve decision making.