Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117830

Caroline Hilari¹, Ramiro Llanque, Dr², and Irma Condori². (1) Save the Children USA, Heroes del Acre #1725, San Pedro, La Paz, 00000, Bolivia, (2) Consejo Salud Rural Andino, Calle Walter Khon, #806 Zona Cristo Rey, La Paz, Bolivia, 591-22415752, csra@csra-bolivia.org

Problem: In Bolivia, especially in rural areas, high rates of neonatal mortality persist. Use of health services is low and there is the need to bring the health services closer to communities. Many common problems can be solved at the house level Methodology: A operational research was conducted with comparisons before and after the intervention. The intervention involved training auxiliary nurses in neonatal IMCI to conduct domiciliary visits where they can provide care to pregnant women and neonates as well as give counseling to the families. The protocol demanded three domiciliary visits to each pregnant woman: once in the last trimester of pregnancy, once in the first three days after birth and once between the 4 and 7 days after birth. Results: Performing domiciliary visits to women in their perinatal period, is a feasible and effective strategy for the public sector. The proportion of childbirths assisted by no-qualified personnel in the home was decreased from 82% to 57% and were mostly substituted with health personal assisting the childbirth at home. The proportion of mothers reporting that their baby has been dried immediately after birth increased from 7% to 21%. The proportion of new born with control in health services during their first three days of lives increased from 45% to approximately to 70%. Also the proportion of mothers recognizing at least two emergency signs in the new born increased from 25 to 58%. The cost of home visits was $5.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants of this session will appreciate the advantages and difficulties
• of delivering perinatal care to the home in a disperse and extremely poor
• setting

Keywords: Nurse Practitioners, Perinatal Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation