Changes in health care parameters following the introduction of a comprehensive rural development scheme in South India

This paper examines the changes in health care parameters over a 5-year period following the introduction of a comprehensive rural development scheme in India. The scheme focused not only on health, but also on educational, economic and social development Data relating to maternal and child health parameters obtained before the project started were compared with data obtained 5 years later and also with data obtained from an adjacent area where no development had taken place. Improvement in the following health care parameters was noted: increased antenatal care, decreased birth rate, decreased infant mortality rate, and increased immunization rate. There were only slight improvements in nutritional factors. These data indicate that a comprehensive rural development scheme can have considerable impact on the health care parameters described. It may take longer to demonstrate improvement in nutritional status.