INTRODUCTION

The health of women and children is a fundamental pillar for the overall development and
progress of any society. Women, as a primary caregivers and contributors to the family and
community, and children, as the future of the nation, require special attention to their health and
well- being. Good health among women and children not only improves quality of life but also
significantly impacts economic productivity, education, and social stability.

Haryana is included in the prosperous states of the country and women are doing well here in
every field. Being a prosperous state, it can be inferred that the health condition of women in
Haryana will be much better but it is not the absolute truth. If we talk about last census years,
then the condition of sex ratio was very bad. Even today 12.5% of girls in Haryana are married at
a minor age, although this figure is less compared to National Family Health Survey 4.
According to the NFHS 4, this figure was 19% . In Haryana, 60% of the women in the age group
of 15 to 49 are suffering from anaemia. That is, they don’t get the necessary essential elements in
the food.

The health status of women is intrinsically linked to their status in society. Haryana strictly
follows a patriarchal system where son holds the centre stage in the family. Indian women have
low level of both education and formal participation. They typically have a little little autonomy,
living under the control of their families. However, as the level of education is increasing, the
health status of women is improving. According to National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-
21), 60.4 percent of women in Haryana availed antenatal care facility at least four times during
pregnancy, whereas according to NFHS 4, only 45.1 percent of women were receiving these
benefits. 32 percent women consume iron and folic acid for at least 180 days during pregnancy,
where as earlier the figure was only 14.3 percent. Now about 95 % of women give birth to
children in the hospital, where as earlier figure was 80.4%.

In many rural areas, the health status of women and children remains a matter of serious concern.
Various socio-economic and cultural factors contribute to poor heath outcomes.Widespread
poverty, low level of literacy, limited access to healthcare facilities, traditional beliefs and
practices, malnutrition lack of sanitation, and inadequate awareness about health services
collectively hinder the achievement of optimal health standards.

Recognizing these challenges, the study was undertaken with the objective of accessing the
current health conditions of women and children in selected rural regions. The aim was to collect
first-hand information regarding their health issues, patterns of healthcare utilization, access to
services, and awareness about the health schemes of government.

Based on the findings, the study also proposes practical recommendations and interventions that
can help in improving the health status of women and children, thereby contributing towards
healthier and more empowered rural communities.
 STUDY AREA
MAP OF HARYANA STATE
(AMBALA DISTRICT, TEHSIL AND IT’S VILLAGES)

MAP- 1
IT SHOWS ALL 22 DISTRICTS OF HARYANA AND RED CIRCLE SHOWS THE CAPITAL
OF HARYANA (CHANDIGARH)

MAP-2 (TEHSIL OF AMBALA- AMBALACANTT, AMBALA CITY AND NARAYANGARH )

33

MAP - 3 STUDY AREA – (BABYAL VILLAGE OF AMBALA CANTT)

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To study the health condition of women, girls and children in rural areas.
2. To identify major health challenges faced by women and children.
3. To study the availability and usage of healthcare facilities.
4. To suggest practical ways to improve health and well-being among rural women and
children.

METHODOLOGY
 Study area
The study area was conducted in selected rural areas.( The rural area or village (Babyal) of
Ambala Tehsil, Ambala district , has been chosen for study purpose).
These areas were chosen to represent the typical health conditions and challenges faced by
women and children in rural areas.

 Respondents
 The respondents for the study has been chosen are:-
 Women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years)
 Elderly women (above 50 years)
 Pregnant women
 Children (up to 18years of age)

The main motive of diversification of group to capture a comprehensive view of health

status across different categories of ages and life stages.

 Tools for data collection

Survey questionnaires:- structured questions and well organized questionnaires were used
 to Collect detailed and consistent information of heath care facilities, health indicators, availability
of Health care access, sanitation practices, and nutritional status.
Personal interviews:- Face-to-Face interviews helps in gathering deeper insights information
and clarification on responses given in the questionnaires.
Focuses on Group discussion (FGDs):- Group discussions with women and community
members were conducted to understand common health issues, traditional health practices,
and community perceptions regarding health services.
Observations:- Observations were made regarding the living conditions, sanitation and
Facilities, and overall environment to analyze data.
These offline tools are useful for collecting data in various setting, such as:-
 Field research
 Face-to-Face interactions
 These tools can provide rich, qualitative data

 Data Type
Primary Data- Students will collect primary data collect from the field through the
administration of structured and well organized questionnaire. A total of 30 respondents were
surveyed in the selected rural areas.

Secondary Data- In addition to field data, secondary information was collected from
government reports such as the report of National Family Health Survey, Health department
publications, and other official documents to compare and validate findings. By identifying
gaps for healthcare facilities or other necessary things, etc. we may focus on these problem
and try to gather women’s points of view for their welfare. It will also help in better
understand of previous shortcomings and faults of healthcare system.

 Sampling Method
Convenience sampling method has been adopted to select the respondents to, given the
sample size, and the objective of gaining preliminary insights for internship purposes.
Findings
(Add Table)
Objective -1 :- To study the health status of women and children in rural areas
The study has been found that overall the health status of women and children in the selected
area or rural areas was a cause of concern. 30 respondents has been chosen for this purpose.
The analysis table shows that:-




Objective -2:- To assess the availability and accessibility of health care services
Findings and analysis table reveals that how many respondents are able to access the
health care facilities:-




Objective:-3 To access awareness about government health schemes and programs

regarding supporting women health, childcare and welfare
The analysis table also emphasis on how many respondents are aware about health schemes


Objective:-4 To understand sanitation and hygiene practices among women and
children
The table also throws the light how many respondents maintain their hygiene and educate
about the sanitation



Series 1
3
Series 2
Series 3
2

0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
Challenges Observed:-
From analysis Table we also find that there are some certain challenges that are faced by the
women and child of rural areas:-

1. Lack of female doctors- As women feel comfort to share their problem to female
doctors, the lack of female doctors may lead the trust issues in female.

2. Financial issues- Limited financial resources are major barrier, preventing timely
medical consultation for many individuals.

3. Traditional beliefs- Deep –rooted cultural and traditional beliefs sometimes conflicted
with modern medical practices, leading to hesitation in seeking medical care.

Suggestions for improvement:-

1. Healthcare awareness camp:- Organize regular health awareness camps in villages to
educate the community so that they could be aware about the healthcare schemes.

2. Training of community health workers:- Enhance the training and support provided to
community health workers (ASHA/ANMs) to improve healthcare delivery at the grassroots
level.

3. Promotion of institutional Deliveries:- Intensify immunization drives and ensure

effective follow-up to guarantee high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of
preventable disease.

4. Mobile Health Clinics:- Introduce mobile health clinics for remote villages to provide
healthcare services to underserved populations.
5. Education on Nutrition and Hygiene:- strengthen education programs on nutrition and
personal hygiene to empower individuals with the knowledge to maintain good health.

6. Sanitation facilities:- Construct and maintain proper sanitation facilities in every

household to promote health and prevent disease.

Conclusion:
This internship project offered invaluable insights into the health conditions of women and
children in rural areas. It underscored the critical need for improvement in healthcare
facilities, increased awareness , and the active involvement of communities in health
initiatives. By implementing straightforward yet consistent improvements, like health
outcomes for rural women and children can be substantially enhanced, fostering the
development of stronger, healthier communities.

This conclusion effectively wraps up your findings and emphasizes the importance of
addressing the challenges for better health outcomes.
Summary of findings:-
Overall, the study found that poor health status, limited healthcare accessibility,
insufficient sanitation facilities, and lack of awareness about government programs are the
major factors affecting the health of women and children in rural areas. Addressing these
issues through improved healthcare infrastructure, awareness campaign, and community-
based interventions is essential for better health outcomes.