Reproductive and child health are a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It addresses the reproductive processes, functions and systems at all stages of life. Reproductive health, therefore, implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide, if when, and how often to do so. This definition focus on right of men and women to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable methods of fertility regulation of their choice, and the right to access to appropriate health care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.
To summarize the definition, we can say
- People have the ability to reproduce and regulate their fertility.
- Women are able to go through pregnancy and child birth safely.
- The outcome of pregnancy is successful in terms of maternal and infant well being.
- Couples are able to have sexual relations free of fear of unwanted pregnancy and of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- After forty care.
The second phase of RCH program i.e. RCH - II has been commenced from 1st April, 2005 the five year file 2010. The main objective of the program is to bring about a change in mainly three critical health indicators i.e. reducing total fertility rate, infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate with a view to realizing the outcomes envisioned in the Millennium Development Goals, the National Population Policy 2000, and the Tenth Plan Document, the National Health Policy 2002 and Vision 2020 India.