The overarching goal of this study is to generate baseline estimates for various healthcare performance indicators to help the authorities understand the current status of the sampled villages. The findings generated out of this study will serve as a crucial input for designing social accountability strategies and interventions for bringing about quality improvements in the health service delivery. Under the purview of this overarching goal, this study will seek to achieve the following specific objectives
- To evaluate the effectiveness of VHSNCs and PRIs for planning and implementing various interventions for improving the healthcare scenario of the village.
- To assess the functioning of VHSNCs in terms of regularity in carrying out the activities mandated for them.
- To generate various health indicators for the village residents to inform the authorities about the healthcare needs of the people in the selected locations.
- To take anthropometric measurements of the children under 5 years of age in order to assess their nutritional status and assess the level of malnourishment in the population.
- To bring to light various socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the sampled villages to help the authorities develop a better understanding of the overall status of these villages.
- To assess the level of awareness regarding social accountability mechanisms among the general population, PRI members, VHSNC members and healthcare staff.
- To evaluate the BPHCs for the availability of requisite healthcare infrastructure for offering quality healthcare services to the population in their catchment area.
- To appraise the utilization of key health services, especially services that would be made available to all recipients irrespective of health/illness conditions such as vaccinations and ANC services, etc.
- To study the obstetric history of ever married women between 15-49 years of age, including associated infant/child survival to develop a better understanding of the maternal and child health scenario.