Chiranjeevi Scheme: IIM-A team to survey 600 Banaskantha villages

The Registrar General of India,2008,Sample Registration System (SRS) data has shown Mother Mortality Rate in Gujarat to be around 50. Similarly,according to the SRS data,the average IMR in India is 53. The rural areas of Gujarat have an average of 58,while in the urban areas it is 36.

“There are evidences that the reporting or registration of cases under the Chiranjeevi Scheme is different from the actual numbers. The rising incidents of Infant Mortality Rate and Mother Mortality Rate is a significant issue. There is a need for better recording of maternal and neonatal deaths,” said Prof Mavalankar.

“In our study,we will be seeing the difference between Chiranjeevi Scheme versus non-Chiranjeevi Scheme villages. While the state government has stated that MMR in Gujarat has decreased by 3-5 times,I feel that there is underreporting. We have prepared a questionnaire and we will interview the villagers about Chiranjeevi Scheme,” he added.

He further said: “This study is funded by Macarthur Foundation. We will also compare the death cases of mother with the control cases (where the mothers and infants have been saved).”

Prof Mavalankar also said that he and his team would try to find out the factors that have prevented mother and infants deaths. “Under these factors,we have included some other factors such as where the deaths were reported in Banaskantha district? Was the treatment done on time and others. Most of our queries will be emphasizing on the socio-demographic factors such as if there is a proper transportation services and access to blood in the district. We will also compare the stillbirths and live births of infants in the district. The survey would be done till November this year.”