A cross sectional study to assess the knowledge and practice about free transport service available under JSSK, among the Post-Natal Mothers at atertiary care hospital in Maharashtra

Abstract

Government of India has launched "Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram" on 1st July 2011, to assure free and cashless services (including free transport) to all pregnant women and sick neonates accessing public health institutions. The objective of the study was to find out level of awareness AND utilization of free transport service.In a Hospital based cross sectional study, among Post-natal Mothers in a tertiary care Hospital. Random sampling method was used to select sample of 250, after conducting a pilot study. In present study 114 (45.6%) of study participants were aware free transport service and 84 (33.6%) used free transport service available under JSSK. It was observed that awareness of free transport service was significantly higher among rural (71.4%) participants as compared to urban (24.6%). About 56.9% of the participants educated above secondary level were aware of this service, where as only 16.7% of illiterate were aware. Fifty percent and 53.4% of mothers belonging to General category and OBC families respectively were aware of the free transport service, whereas only 31.6% and 25.9% mothers belonging to S.C. & S.T. families were aware. Similar results were found regarding utilization of free transport service.