Addressing literacy and awareness disparity: Enhancing MCP card utilization in urban slum communities

Sir, The article titled ‘Awareness and utilization of mother and child protection (MCP) card among mothers attending immunization OPD: An urban health centrebased cross-sectional study’ published in your journal[1] (Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 13(5):2015–2019, May 2024) highlighted the literacy and awareness disparity regarding the MCP card, underscoring the critical need for increased understanding within urban slum communities. The article evaluates the awareness and utilization of the mother and child protection (MCP) card among beneficiaries in an urban slum area, focusing on pregnant women and young mothers. The article reveals significant gaps in both the issuance and comprehension of the MCP card. Despite being issued to most participants during baby immunization (44.15%), a substantial portion of women did not read the card, with only 53.54% engaging with its content. This lack of engagement suggests possible literacy challenges. The article also found that the majority of women (91.5%) viewed the MCP card primarily as a vaccination record, with only 52% recognizing it as an information tool. This limited perception indicates a broader lack of awareness about the card’s comprehensive health information. Furthermore, while better knowledge of pregnancy care correlates with improved utilization of antenatal care services, the general level of knowledge among the participants was unsatisfactory. This gap in understanding, possibly due to illiteracy, results in underutilization of crucial health services. Despite using the card for vaccination records, the awareness about the vaccines themselves remains low, highlighting an ineffective communication of information. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy and health education among these populations, enhancing the MCP card’s effectiveness as a health tool. Approach to Address this Problem The strategy to enhance the utilization of the MCP card in urban slum communities consists of several components. Initially, we will provide education to residents about the card’s significance. Subsequently, healthcare professionals will receive training to effectively communicate its importance. Additionally, we will utilize mobile phones as a means to disseminate information about the card. Furthermore, community outreach efforts will be conducted to ensure widespread awareness and integration of the card into routine healthcare services. Finally, we will assess the effectiveness of our approach and seek opportunities for improvement. Ultimately, our goal is to equip individuals in urban slums with the knowledge and resources necessary to access improved healthcare services for mothers and children. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.