FHS India Research Brief 3 - Barriers to access immunization services: a study in Murshidabad, West Bengal

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West Bengal, the focus state of the Future Health System research project, has demonstrated an impressive record of progress in immunization coverage. According to a recent national survey – the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - the percentage of fully immunized children in the state has reached about 64 percent in 2005-06 (NFHS-3) from a mere 34 percent in 1990-91 (NFHS-1), compared to the national progress from 36 percent to 44 percent during the same period. About three-fourth of all children in the state received measles vaccine in 2005-06 compared to 42 percent in 1990-91 (the corresponding national figures are: 59% and 42%). Despite overall achievement in immunization coverage, there is a growing concern among the state’s decision-makers about relatively lower performance in several regions within the state. These are typical difficult pockets where severe

barriers are perceived to exist on the way of accessing public health services. West Bengal, the focus state of the Future Health System researchproject, has demonstrated an impressive record of progress in immunizationcoverage. According to a recent national survey – the National Family HealthSurvey (NFHS) - the percentage of fully immunized children in the state hasreached about 64 percent in 2005-06 (NFHS-3) from a mere 34 percent in 1990-91 (NFHS-1), compared to the national progress from 36 percent to 44 percentduring the same period. About three-fourth of all children in the state received measles vaccine in 2005-06 compared to 42 percent in 1990-91 (thecorresponding national figures are: 59% and 42%). Despite overall achievement in immunization coverage, there is a growing concern among the state’s decision-makers about relatively lower performance in several regions within the state. These are typical difficult pockets where severebarriers are perceived to exist on the way of accessing public health services.