LOVE these chapters from PATH’s “Basic Delivery Kit Guide.”  Such a great resource for anyone looking to do this work:

I started taking notes on Sections 2 & 3.

http://www.path.org/files/MCHN_BDKG_Section_2.pdf

http://www.path.org/files/MCHN_BDKG_Section_3.pdf

Here are some notes paraphrased from Section 3:

General things for me to keep in mind:  The CBK program should be added to and strengthen existing maternal and child health MCH programs.  Examples of good places that would be a good fit include traditional birth attendants (TBAs) or medical provider trainings and antenatal care clinics.

Overall project goals:

• contributing to the decrease in maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity caused by puerperal sepsis, cord infection, and tetanus;

•  improving clean delivery practices of delivering women and trained and

untrained birth attendants; and

• establishing a sustainable basic delivery kit project as one component of a clean delivery program

Sustainable…hmmm. I am assuming sustainable means kits produced in-country and sold to pay for inputs/wages.  This is a must I know and I want to do it.  But it will have to be phase two.  I will start with the pilot.  And then see what is possible on the ground.

Specific Goals:

• annual number of kits produced;

• number of assembly sites established;

• number of assemblers hired and trained;

• number of promotional channels, and number of potential users reached per year;

• number of distribution channels;

• number of kits distributed, types of users receiving the kit, and areas reached;

• number of kit outlets (such as retail stores, voluntary women’s groups, NGOs, and health posts); and

• number of TBAs, midwives, and community health workers who use the kit during all deliveries by an established date

Very simple questions to ask when determinig whether to do this, paraphrased:

Do they need CBKs?  Are CBKs available already?

Would that fit in with their program?

Do they have regularly scheduled trainings where the CBKs could be introduced?

And from Section 2 more questions to ask:

Births per year.

Numbers of deliveries conducted at home;

Persons helping with delivery;

Traditional delivery process;

Understanding of “cleanliness” among TBAs and pregnant women;

Types of TBAs;

How women delivering alone prepare for the birth;

Availability of basic equipment such as cord-cutting instruments, cord ties,

water, and facilities to boil water;

Traditional equipment used in delivery;

Feasibility of introducing delivery kits — Specific contents.

Availability of locally assembled kits or United Nations (UN) kits.

Community involvement