[Status of child health services in less developed areas in Sichuan province, 2014-2018]

Objective: To understand the status of child health services by primary medical institutions in less developed areas in Sichuan province and provide evidence for the development of health policy for poverty alleviation. Methods: Annual child health records in the primary medical institutions selected through multistage stratified sampling in 21 prefectures in Sichuan were extracted during 2014-2018. Field survey and telephone interview were used to evaluate the performance of child health services provided and the child guardian's satisfaction degree. Sample descriptive statistics, pair sample t-test, χ(2) test, trend χ(2) test, Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: Except child system management rate, the other indicators reflecting the status of child health service in less developed areas in Sichuan were on rise (P<0.05), and close to average level of whole province in 2018. Except child system management rate, the other indicators reflecting the status of child health management in less developed counties were lower than those in developed counties in Sichuan, most differences were significant (P<0.05). Except child health management rate of traditional Chinese medicine, the other indicators reflecting the status of child health management in less developed counties were higher than those in poverty-stricken counties in Sichuan, most differences were not significant (P≥0.05). Except child systematic management rate, the gap in indicators reflecting child health service status between less developed area and developed area was in reduction, some difference were significant (P<0.05). The child guardian satisfaction degree was associated with true child health management rates (r=0.947, P=0.015), and child health management rate of traditional Chinese medicine (r=0.996, P<0.001). Conclusions: Some achievements have been made in child health services provided by primary medical institutions in less developed areas in Sichuan. To achieve the 2020 poverty alleviation goal, it is necessary to take measures to increase input and improve service level.