Given the poverty, the cultural undervaluing of women and traditional cultural birthing practices, the pregnancy, delivery and newborn periods are among the most risky in the world. A USAID/BHR Child Survival project was initiated by World Vision on October 1, 1998 in Beruarbari block of Ballia district of India (UttarPradesh State). With the Government health services being poor, private rural medical practitioners, and traditional healers form the main sources of curative care. The data presented is for the year 1999-2000. Trained community health workers from the project, supervised by the technical officer used the verbal autopsy tool. This was introduced to the mother or other household member, present at the time of death. It is noticeable that 10 of 30 deaths (33%) identified by the program and followed up by the verbal autopsy occurred in the first day of life.It is essential that program planners include other community health providers in care of the newborn. These deaths can be reduced with capacity building of these indigenous providers and household caretakers through community based management of child hood illness (e.g. Community based IMCI).
Learning Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to (1) assess issue of increased newborn deaths in the early days of their life (2) recognize the scope and need for quality newborn care at the household and the community level (3) discuss the appropriate community based interventions required to provide quality care.
Keywords: Birth Outcomes,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: World Vision India
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.