What is the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic era 2020 on JSSK-JANANI-SHISHU SURAKSHA KARYAKRAM (Mother-Child Protection Program) Services Utilization in India – A Cross-Sectional Comparative Research Study?

In India due to the elevated fertility rate and vast population (globally next to china) mother (Janani) and child (Shishu) protection programs (Suraksha Karyakaram) are quite significant for public healthcare provision systems, especially in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic era during which most of the necessary pregnancy and infant care protective health services utilization are disrupted. The Government of India started JSSK (Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram) on 1st June 2011 for the benefit of millions of pregnant women (PW) and infants utilizing Government (public) health facilities across all the States and UTs (union territories) of India. The Government JSSK scheme provides various free entitlements and services to PW and infants. This may improve maternal and child health services utilization at public health facilities which can reduce MMR (maternal mortality rate) and IMR (infant mortality rate) in the country. The ongoing COVID 19 pandemic era has disrupted several routine health services utilization in India due to lockdowns etc. particularly RCH (reproductive and child health) healthcare services which made a situation of rethinking necessary to take necessary steps in the healthcare system's current scenario to prioritize the services according to need and urgency as well as to construct a robust plan to ensure public health services utilization amidst pandemic or any disasters. This research study was done to provide reference to the scientific community and decision-makers with concrete data analysis from accredited HMIS (Health Management Information system) source (Government of India- MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)) to find out the COVID-19 impact on JSSK services utilization by the PW and sick infants of India attending public healthcare facilities across 36 states and UTs of India. This research study was public health facility-based, retrospective, mixed, cross-sectional study that was conducted for infants and pregnant women who utilized the available free services under JSSK in the public health facilities across 36 states and UTs of India from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020. The first COVID-19 patient in India was confirmed on the 27th of January 2020. Hence for this research study, the year before 2020 i.e. 2018, and 2019 were considered as the pre-pandemic period and the year 2020 was considered as the pandemic period. This research study revealed that there is an increase in almost all JSSK service utilization at public health facilities in India compared to the pre-pandemic era on a cumulative all India basis