Comprehensive Rural Health Project : Jamkhed

» Impact

The impact of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project's many health and development programs have been far-reaching into nearly every aspect of life – social, economic, physical, and spiritual – as implied by the term “health”. This impact has been described quantitatively through surveys and research conducted over time to identify changes in the health and socioeconomic status of project villages. Equally important are the qualitative changes that have taken place with regard to quality of life and expectations for the future. Such profound changes were apparent almost immediately following partnership with the first of our project villages in the early 1970s.

For instance, people now willingly accept family planning (both permanent and temporary) since they no longer expect their children to die from communicable diseases, keeping the average number of children per couple at 2-3. In addition 80% of health problems are effectively taken care of and monitored at the villages themselves by well-trained and confident VHWs.

Over five hundred women from CRHP's project villages attended a conference on micro-credit organized by CRHP in August 2007. As the self-help groups are expanding and making better use of their resources, the government and corporate sectors are taking notice. These women have gone a long way from the days when their every step was controlled. They are now empowered and have gained the respect and trust of those in power and are themselves influencing key policy at the local level.

The impact of CRHP’s training activities has led to a true grassroots movement for health and social justice, shaping public health policy as well as the direction taken by health conscious NGOs involved in development work. More than a few of the trainees in our programs have been inspired and empowered to initiate similar projects in India and abroad. The success and growth of those off-shoot projects is a reflection of the power and universality inherent in the comprehensive community-based approach that has been developed and refined at Jamkhed over the past three and a half decades.

CRHP Statistics (1971-2004)

Year	1971	1976	1986	1993	1996	1999	2004	India 2004
IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) n/1000 live births	176	52	49	19	26	26	24	62
CBR (Crude Birth Rate) n/1000	40	34	28	20	20	20	18.6	23.9
Maternal Health • Antenatal Care • Safe Delivery • Family Planning	.5% <.5% <1.0%	80% 74% 38%	82% 83% 60%	82% 83% 60%	96% 98% 60%	87% 98% 60%	99% 99% 68%	64% 43% 41%
Children Under 5 • Immunization (DPT, Polio) • Malnutrition (weight for age)	.5% 40%	81% 30%	91% 30%	91% 5%	92% 5%	99% 5%	99% <5%	70% 47%
Chronic Diseases • Leprosy (Prev/1000) • TB (Prev/1000)	4 18	2 15	1 11	.1 6.0	.1 6.0	<.1 4.0	<.1 2.0	.24 4.1

The data in this table (below) has been taken from the 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) conducted for the state of Maharashtra. We have chosen to present certain key indicators to compare and contrast urban and rural areas. These indicators reflect the current state of development and health care in Maharashtra.

2005-06	Urban	Rural
Probability of dying <5 years of age (under five mortality) per 1,000 live births [1999]	65.4	111.4
Children 12-23 with all recommended vaccines (%)	68	50
Infant Mortality Rate (/1000 live births)	22	51
Ever married adults (15-49) who ever heard of HIV/AIDS (%)	Men: 96.5 Women: 89.2	Men: 83.9 Women: 70.0
Women 20-24 who were married by age 18 (%) *[Prior to legal age of marriage for women]*	28.9	48.9
Total Fertility Rate (children/woman)	1.91	2.30
Mothers with at least 3 antenatal care visits for last birth (%)	86.3	65.5
Births assisted by doctor or nurse or TBA (trained birth attendant) %	87.6	56.5
Mothers receiving postnatal care within 2 days of delivery by trained health personnel (%)	70.4	48.7
Below Normal BMI (Body Mass Index) %	Men: 17.3