Impact Of Maternity Benefit Schemes On Maternal & Child Health, With Special Reference To Bihar

Abstract

Maternity benefits of at least Rs. 6,000 is a legal right of all Indian women under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Every eligible Pregnant & Lactating woman receive conditional cash transfer of Rs 5000 in three installments on first live
baby birth under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna (PMMVY). Beneficiaries receive remaining cash incentive as approved
norms towards the maternity Benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) . In practice, a large majority, especially in rural areas
are still deprived of maternity benefits and basic needs for nutritious food, proper rest and health care. The objective of the study
is to assess the awareness of Maternity Benefit Schemes in Bihar & to analyze its effect on Antenatal Check Up (ANC) ,
Postnatal Check Up (PNC), & Routine Immunization to maximum possible eligible pregnant and Lactating women of state.
As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 data institutional deliveries increase up to approx. 20 percent in 5 years from 2015
to 2019 but still the noticeable point is institutional deliveries in public facilities is still only 56.9%. Anti Natal Check-ups in first
trimester shows 18.3% growth from NFHS -4 to 5 but only 25% of pregnant women in Bihar could receive minimum 4 ANC.
There is need to study the awareness of overall maternity Benefit schemes of government having impact on maternal & child
health and have benefit during pregnancy, delivery & post-natal period. Our study is based on secondary data analysis where
independent variables are mother’s education, Institutional support, family support, benefit of government schemes whereas
dependent variable are maternal & child health indicators like, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) , Infant Mortality Rate (IMR),
Child Mortality Rate (CMR) constitute half of the population of the world and affect the growth of the remaining half. Bihar has
72% death rate in under 5 children attributable to malnutrition,48% stunted children,23% low birth weight infantsin comparison to
Indian's 68%,39%respectively as per NFSHS,NSSO,ICMR.