Public Health Research
FRHS predominantly works in the areas of maternal health, adolescent health, child health and
nutrition, reproductive health, family planning and prevention of HIV/AIDS. In these areas, FRHS focuses on
programme planning to strengthen existing systems; carrying out monitoring and evaluation; and
programme/policy evaluation, and has received funding support from organizations such as Welcome Trust,
Rockefeller Foundation, CARE, DFID, UNICEF, ICICI Social Initiative Group; Deepak Charitable Trust, and
ICRW.
Intervention research is another of FRHS’ focus areas, specifically in designing and implementing Health
Management Information System (HMIS) and to use the HMIS data to reach out to the target beneficiaries and to build capacities of programme managers in making service delivery, efficient and effective.
Health Needs Assessment (HNA) for Integrated Health Care Delivery Model in Majuli, Assam
This health needs assessment study in Majuli district of Assam, was carried out to guide the development of an Integrated Health Care Delivery model (IHCD) being initiated by Piramal Swasthya. The model involves leveraging cutting edged Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and seeking public-private partnerships to make health care accessible, affordable and available to all. The model is being implemented currently in 100 villages, with the goal of reducing maternal and infant mortality as well as premature mortality due to Hypertension and Diabetes, through early detection, treatment and referral services.
The study attempted to answer four questions namely,
- how much of the MCH and NCD care needs are currently being met;
- what are the key unmet needs related to MCH and NCD care;
- what are the challenges people face in accessing, availing and affording the existing health services, and
- what are the major MCH/NCD related risk factors that need addressing.
End-line Evaluation of “Comprehensive Diabetes Management in Assam"
Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute (PSMRI)initiated in 2011, Sanjeevani Village Health Outreach Program to provide promotive and preventive primary health care services, including screening and management of non-communicable disease, to especially to hard-to-reach communities, covering 3744 villages in 27 districts, serving over 65 lakhs people in rural Assam. In 2012, Piramal Swasthya, in partnership with the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), added awareness activities on diabetes prevention and its management program to the existing services. This program aimed at making significant changes in behaviours of the poor, helping them to prevent diabetes through awareness and behavior change as well as providing screening and treatment facilities in the village. FRHS was requested to undertake impact assessment of this program, for which baseline assessment was available.
Competency Assessments for Midwifery Skills of Providers and Tutors, and Barriers and Facilitators in providing Quality Midwifery Services in India
A study undertaken to form the roadmap for implementation of national
midwifery guidelines (2019). The study developed and validated questionnaires for measuring midwifery competencies of clinical midwifes (practitioners) and midwifery teaching competence of midwifery educators in public and private sectors of Assam and Karnataka. FRHS is leading the study in Assam and Karnataka whereas its partners IIPHG leaded in Gujarat and MAMTA-HIMC leaded in Bihar, UP and Telangana.
