Oral

This session will address key issues in maternal, newborn and child health in low income countries. Several innovative community approaches which have demonstrated impact on improving health of mothers and children will be presented. The approaches range from pregnant mothers’ groups supported by female community health volunteers, to working with Muslim religious scholars to increase men’s awareness of MCH issues, to using mobile phones to disseminate child health messages. These approaches were able to increase prenatal attendance and facility births, delay newborn bathing, detect and treat newborn infections, increase obstetrical planning and transport, and to reduce diarrheal disease and increase immunization rates for children. Another important MCH issue is the increasing number of natural disasters in various parts of the globe. One example of the impact of multiple disasters in a rural population will be presented and used to explore the issues and the effects on maternal and child health.

Session Objectives: 1.List 3 effective community interventions for improving maternal, newborn and child health. 2.Compare strengths and weaknesses of these interventions for different types of communities and resources. 3.Explain the impact of natural disasters on maternal and child health services and health outcomes.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)