Search

Background: Although most public services provide tests and TB drugs free of charge worldwide, opportunity costs pose barriers to accessing TB services and treatment. 'Kumar Raajratna Bhimrao Ambedkar Vaidakiya Sahay Yojana (KRBAVSY)' popularly known as Free Medical Aid Scheme is in operation in Gujarat since early 70s for SC and since 1991 for SEBC to provide monetary incentive. Primary objective: Evaluation of utilization and effectiveness of Financial incentives given under Free Medical Aids scheme on RNTCP in Gujarat. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken in which all TB patients registered under RNTCP in Gandhinagar district were evaluated for their eligibility for KRBAVSY scheme, and whether eligible patients got benefit or not. Also, treatment outcome of patients were compared. Results: Out of total 1430 patients inquired, 896 (62.7%) patients were found eligible for the scheme, while only 87 (9.7%) patients confirmed that they had got the benefit of scheme. Eligible patients who got benefit under scheme had almost five times higher odds of successful outcome of TB treatment. Conclusion: The TB patients who got benefit of KRBAVSY scheme had significantly better successful treatment outcome in comparison to the TB patients who did not get benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Facility Based Newborn Care (FBNC) is a key strategy to improve child survival, especially in newborn care where neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is stagnant in declining. Gujarat has achieved considerable amount of reduction in child deaths, but neonatal health requires attention. The study was aimed to assess the admission pattern of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) which supports decision-making. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was done from secondary data of the SNCU reports on the aspects of admission patterns, morbidity, and mortality pattern. The reports had been analyzed on various critical variables. Results: In 2015-2016, Gujarat has operationalized forty SNCUs by saturating each district with at least one SNCU. The study found near proportions of (53%) inborn - (47%) outborn admission and 44% admission of female. Out of 69,662 admissions, 67% were discharged, 16% died, 10% leaving against medical advice, and 7% referred to higher centers. Major reasons for admission were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (22%) and infection (21%). Similar pattern in mortality found as final diagnosis of deaths was RDS (23%) and infection (21%). The proportion of neonatal deaths in outborn was high compared to inborn. Conclusion: Strengthening of FBNC is essential to address neonatal mortality. NMR is of prime focus because the health interventions needed to tackle NMR differ from those needed for infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate. This accentuates the need for focused attention on facility- and community-based child health interventions along with quality maternal health services and robust referral mechanisms to all delivery points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]