Implementing community-based perinatal care: results from a pilot study in rural Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study investigated the feasibility of delivering a package of community-based interventions for improving perinatal care using lady health workers (LHWs) and traditional birth attendants (Dais) in rural Pakistan. Methods: The intervention was implemented in four of eight village clusters (315 villages, total population 138 600), while four served as a comparison group. The LHWs in intervention clusters received additional training focused on essential maternal and newborn care, conducted community education group sessions, and were encouraged to link up with local Dais. The intervention was delivered within the regular government LHW programme and was supported by the creation of voluntary community health committees. Findings: In intervention villages, there were significant reductions from baseline in stillbirth (from 65.9 to 43.1 per 1000 births, P

Citation

Bulletin of the World Health Organization (2008) 86 (6) pp. 452-459 [doi:10.2471/BLT.07.045849].

Implementing community-based perinatal care: results from a pilot study in rural Pakistan.

Published 1 January 2008