Effectiveness of Pharmacist Intervention (SAHELI) on Family Planning, Maternal Care and Child Care Among Rural Women

Background: Due to low literacy rates and poor economic status rural women are either completely or partially unaware about modern Family Planning techniques and proper scientific maternal care and child care. “SAHELI”- Scheme to Aware Help and Empower Ladies in India was introduced in this context. It offers rural women, a complete assistance in learning modern FP techniques and practicing proper reproductive or sexual health care. Objectives: To assess the knowledge regarding Family Planning, Maternal Care and Child Care among rural women and to educate, aware and empower them regarding Family Planning, Maternal Care and Child Care. Methods: A quasi experimental study with 6-month duration was conducted among 140 women in the age group 15-45, in a rural area of Kerala state, India to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist intervention in Family Planning, Maternal Care and Child Care among rural women. Result: Before intervention, 53.8% of the subject did not have knowledge about any methods of contraception, but after intervention all the subjects had knowledge about two or more methods. There was a significant improvement in family planning, maternal care and child care knowledge after intervention with a p<0.05. Paired t-test shows the mean total score for knowledge for FP, maternal care and child care for pre-intervention: 117.48±10.53 and post-intervention:170.71±5.45. Conclusion: The study clearly conveyed that majority of rural women were unaware about the Family Planning methods, Maternal Care and Child Care practices. The scheme has got a great acceptance by the rural women and they showed great enthusiasm and interest in acquiring more knowledge. This can be attributed to the care of pharmacist/community services in India and the perceived role of a pharmacist in the health care set up.