Maternal health is considered a key indicator of women’s rights. High rates of maternal morbidity and mortality is a continuing problem in India. Even though the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India is on the decline, it is among the countries’ with the largest numbers in the global annual count of maternal deaths. The low status of women, as evident in their low levels of literacy, early marriage and pregnancy as well as low coverage of health services are seen as some important causes behind this phenomenon.
The Sajhedar project or Family Health Campaign: Accountability for Change helped to engender community accountability for better services from the health system and also a sense of accountability among men as responsible partners and fathers. Within a gender equality framework, the programme also addressed the exclusion of men from family planning. The programme was implemented in Madhya Pradesh’s Siddhi and Morena districts, with partner organisations Gram Sudhar Samiti and Dharti Sansthan.
The programme affected change in maternal health through male involvement in challenging household gender relations and community norms that impact women’s health, and taking collective social action to facilitate accountability from the health system.
