Health Management Information System for Maternal & Newborn Health in Urban India

Background Analysis of the NFHS III data indicate that although the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is lower in the urban areas (28.7) than the rural areas (42.5), the same is worse amongst the urban poor (36.8). Despite the... [ view full abstract ]

Background
Analysis of the NFHS III data indicate that although the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is lower in the urban areas (28.7) than the rural areas (42.5), the same is worse amongst the urban poor (36.8). Despite the launch of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in 2013, service delivery mechanisms are still being developed with no dedicated system to report progresses in urban areas. Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives program and Population Foundation of India’s Health of the Urban Poor (HUP) project piloted a HMIS at community and facility level in two cities of Pune and Bhubaneshwar.

Methodology
In consultation with the two city corporations, a gap analysis was carried out comprising of mapping of current reporting systems, field visits and review of different levels of health facilities. A comprehensive HMIS was developed and piloted for six months under the project and the findings were shared with the government bodies. The analysis explored the reasons for non-availability of data from the community through follow up interviews and validated the findings through triangulation with the facility level data.

Result
Reviews indicated that information around vulnerable communities generally missing; insufficient data to undertake analysis by diseases, by health providers and facilities. The study ensured that new indicators on neonatal health are added and disaggregated analysis was carried out. Some of succinct findings suggested that the share of public and private health care facilities vary across the two cities, particularly in the uptake of delivery and postnatal care. This has been validated by the analysis of the facility level results.

Conclusion
Continuous engagements with the urban local bodies in developing a comprehensive HMIS and systematic documentation of key processes can help develop the cities a feasible HMIS for MNH services in urban areas.