Rachel J. Blacher, MPH, International Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-815-9348, rjblacher@hotmail.com

PURPOSE: Approximately 16,000 women die every year in Bangladesh because of maternal complications, resulting in a maternal mortality rate of 330 deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2000, CARE Bangladesh began a Safe Motherhood project called ‘Nirahpad Ma’ to educate women, along with their families and communities to improve maternal health and maternal outcomes. Each village in the project had a Community Support Systems (CSS) to educate women, men and village leaders about pregnancy issues such as nutrition and what to do in the event of an obstetric emergency. Each CSS was led by a committee, comprised of religious and civic leaders. This study evaluated how the CSS have impacted women’s ability to access emergency obstetric care.

DATA: Seventy-one interviews were conducted. Thirty-seven were with women who had delivered in a health facility and were from a CSS village; 23 were with members of CSS executive committees; and 11 were with women who delivered in a health facility, but did not come from a CSS village.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were used in this study.

RESULTS: Women credited the education and information intervention as the most beneficial part of the project. They also valued having a community fund and transportation available to them in case of an emergency. Men and community leaders appreciated the project because they now had a better idea of the dangers associated with delivery.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Maternal health education projects need to include men and other key decision makers in order to enable women to access health services.

Learning Objectives: