Quality Assessment of Child Care Services in Primary Health Care Settings of Central Karnataka (Davangere District)

BACKGROUND: Infectious disease and malnutrition are common in children. Primary health care came into being to decrease the morbidity. Quality assessment is neither clinical research nor technology assessment. It is primarily an administrative device used to monitor performance to determine whether it continues to remain within acceptable bounds. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of service in the delivery of child health care in a primary health care setting. To evaluate client satisfaction. To assess utilization of facilities by the community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Type: Cross-sectional community-based study. Quality assessment was done by taking 30-50%, of the service provider. Client satisfaction was determined with 1 Immunization and child examination-90 clients each. Utilization of services was assessed among 478 households. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Proportions, Likert's scale to grade the services and Chi-square. RESULTS: Immunization service: Identification of needed vaccine, preparation and care was average. Vaccination technique, documentation, EPI education, maintenance of cold chain and supplies were excellent. Client satisfaction was good. Growth monitoring: It was excellent except for mother's education andoutreach educational session. Acute respiratory tract infection care: History, physical examination, ARI education were poor. Classification, treatment and referral were excellent. Client satisfaction was good. Diarrheal disease care: History taking was excellent. But examination, classification, treatment, ORT education were poor. CONCLUSION: Mothers education was not stressed by service providers. Service providers’ knowledge do not go with the quality of service rendered. Physical examination of the child was not good. Except for immunization other services were average.