healthline pISSN 2239-337X/eISSN 2320-1525 Volume 4 Issue 1 January-June 2013 Page70 Original article Data Validation of Immunization under RCH Programme among Poor Performing Blocks of Surat District Hitesh Shah 1 , Vipul P. Chaudhari 1 , Binita Desai 1 , S.L. Kantharia 2 1 Assistant Professor, 2 Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat. Correspondance to Dr. Vipul Chaudhari, E-mail ID: drvipulchaudhari@yahoo.com Abstract Introduction: Effective systems for monitoring progress and outcomes are critical for all programme implementation. Community, District and National levels all require appropriate information for decision-making. Information systems on coverage of interventions can serve as a powerful evidence-based tool for programming. Objective: To assess the availability, accessibility, utilization and effective coverage for Immunization services of Reproductive Child Health programme among poor performing blocks of Surat district. Methods: Cross Sectional study with unit 10 PHCs and from each PHC two sub centre villages were selected randomly in Surat District. Results: All vaccine availability at studied PHCs was 99%. Accessibility of UIP vaccines during monthly Immunization session was 96.4%. First, DPT1 coverage at individual PHC was averaged 112.4%. Adequate coverage of fully vaccinated children at individual PHC was averaged 114%. Effective coverage for immunization at 20 sub center was 88.9%. Key Words: Data Validation, Immunization Introduction: Under RCH-II programme, the Government of Gujarat (GOG) is making every effort to improve the quality of health services in rural areas. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand the current status by evaluating important components of Reproductive Child Health activities. It is with this background, this exercise was carried out to assess the status of Reproductive Child Health programme among poor performing blocks of Surat district. This study was carried out to strengthen the RCH activities by validating PHC records. The tool for validation used in this study was based on Modified John Hopkins monitoring steps – Availability, Accessibility, Utilization, Adequate Coverage and Effective Coverage; incorporating the BDCS strategy (Border District Cluster Strategy). 1 Materials and Methods Methodology: The study was planned in the poor performing blocks of Surat District as per the 2010 RCH Programme Report of Surat District. Two blocks were poor performing (Full Immunization coverage less than 70%) as per RCH programme report of Surat district. Validation activity was done in 10 poor performing PHCs of Bardoli (6 PHCs) and Mangrol (4 PHCs) block of Surat district. Sample Size: 10 PHCs and from each PHC two sub centre villages were selected randomly from Bardoli and Mangrol bloack of Surat district. a) Data collecting teams: Each PHC was visited by a team of 4 Members ( Assistant Professor as team leader and three faculties/ resident doctors) from the department of Community Medicine, GMC, Surat. Two members validated the PHC data while the other members covered the Sub centre for data validation and collection. Thus, one unit was covered in one day. The field investigators were trained for collection of quality data and adherence to the uniform guidelines for data collection.