There has been a significant shift in the healthcare scenario for women living in rural India. Improvements in technology, increased awareness, and collaborative efforts between governmental and non-governmental organisations have made high-quality healthcare services more accessible. Over the last decade, notable improvements have been made to the rural healthcare infrastructure, there has been a 30 per cent increase in primary health facilities and a 50 per cent rise in healthcare workers.
Better Access To Healthcare Facilities
One of the major developments is the increased availability of medical facilities in rural areas. The number of healthcare facilities, such as primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs), has significantly increased in rural India. This expansion has benefited women who had trouble accessing essential healthcare in the past.
According to a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare report, there were 2,14,820 PHCs in 2021 compared to 1,33,194 in 2005 (a 61.3 per cent rise in just ten years). Furthermore, the improvement of rural healthcare infrastructure and the closing of the gap between rural and urban healthcare facilities have been made possible by programmes like the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
Focus On Maternal And Child Health
In rural India, the percentage of institutional births has risen from 78.9 per cent in 2015–16 to 88.6 per cent in 2019–21. Maternal mortality ratios (MMR) have shown a downward trend, which is indicative of better pregnancy and delivery healthcare measures. Based on the most recent data from UNICEF, there has been a significant improvement as the MMR has dropped by 34 per cent. Maternal mortality has decreased and overall maternal health outcomes have improved in rural regions as a result of the use of trained birth attendants and the encouragement of antenatal care.
Empowering Women Through Health Education And Awareness
Health education and awareness initiatives have played a crucial role in enabling women to take charge of their health. In order to primarily target women in rural communities, workshops, awareness drives, and health camps have been organised with the help of NGOs and grassroots-level initiatives. For instance, the number of women adopting family planning methods has increased from 663 million to 851 million, suggesting that rural women are becoming more aware and precautious about reproductive health issues.
Integration Of Technology In Healthcare
Government and non-governmental organisations have collaborated to create a unified digital infrastructure that will transform healthcare. With the creation of more than 55 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA), the ABDM has aided in the promotion of telemedicine, bridging the accessibility gap, and streamlining medical recordkeeping. The delivery of healthcare in rural India has been revolutionised by technology, which has increased accessibility of services and efficiency. Thanks to the streamlining of healthcare procedures brought in by telemedicine platforms, mobile health applications, and digital health records, rural women can now maintain their health records, obtain medical consultations and receive health information conveniently.