Women and Children First: Good Practice Guide

This Women and Children First Good Practice Guide details a project, focused on community involvement and education to improve the health of mothers and babies.   The project was administered by Ekjut in India and the Perinatal Care Project of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) in Bangladesh (with the the University College London Centre for International Health and Development and Women and Children First.)

In India, the project resulted in a 45 per cent reduction in newborn deaths and a reduction in maternal deaths, as well as a 57 per cent reduction in moderate maternal depression. In Bangladesh, the project resulted in an increase in uptake of health services. In both India and Bangladesh, the project resulted in a significant improvement in hygienic delivery practices, including use of delivery kits, and an increase in exclusive breastfeeding.

Some effective measures:

Emergency funds to cover transport and medical fees, providing pregnant women with advice and support and, in some Community Mobilisation through Women’s Groups to Improve the Health of Mothers and Babies: Good Practice Guide cases, promoting the use of clean delivery kits for home birth. Women’s groups also held community meetings to raise awareness of maternal and newborn health problems, discuss their proposed strategies and provide feedback to the community on actions and progress.