Spatial Depiction of Variability in Health Care Facilities and Health Achievements in Murshidabud District, West Bengal.

Sharmistha Bagchi; Shatarupa Dey Neogi

Volume : IV, Issue : XII, December - 2015

Spatial Depiction of Variability in Health Care Facilities and Health Achievements in Murshidabud District, West Bengal.

Sharmistha Bagchi, Shatarupa Dey Neogi

Abstract :

Aim: The present study aims to assess the extent of spatial variation in quality of Primary Healthcare facilities in Murshidabud District, West Bengal. Method: Using data from Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health, Govt. Of West Bengal, on availability of structural inputs for the year 2013–14 in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) from 26 Blocks, an Overall Development Index (ODI) is constructed. ODI is a composite measure of the relative importance of all available structural inputs in PHCs. A spatial variation of ODI is then depicted in map to present the shortfall of existence of structural inputs across different blocks. Mean and Standard Deviation is used to compute the spatial variation in health achievements. Results: The result shows intra district variation in availability of facilities for each selected indicator. The Development Index varies from 0.18 in Beharampur to 0.67 in Suti–II. Infant and Maternal Death also shows variation in various blocks. Conclusion: Different Blocks are performing differently in Murshidabud with respect to both availability of services and manpower and also in health achievements. Detection of blocks with low quality of primary healthcare facilities will help in effective interventions.