Women's Health, Family Planning and Accessibility to Health Care in Rural Madhya Pradesh in India: An Insight Into The NRHM Program Indicators, Spatial Disparity and Health Planning

Protap Mukherjee, National Population Stabilization Fund (NPSF)
Lopamudra Ray Saraswati, Invest India Market Solutions Private Limited (IIMS)

The National Rural Health Mission (2005-12) seeks to effective health care to rural population (the poor, women and children) throughout the India with special focus on 18 states including Madhya Pradesh which ranks lowest in the country regarding many health indicators. This paper tries to seek the factors associated with health awareness (including family planning) of rural women in Madhya Pradesh. Using RCH (2002-04) data, Bivariate and multivariate analyses have been carried out. GIS based maps have been prepared for better spatial interpretation. Result shows that among all currently married women, 69 percent of them live in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh. Educational attainment, standard of living and accessibility to health services were found to be important predictors of women’s health and family planning in rural areas. The study reveals a large regional disparity regarding public health services and other indicators and identifies underserved areas for effective planning.