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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Uzma Syed, MBBS, MSc, MPH¹, Sk. Asiruddin, MBBS, MSc², and Imteaz Mannan, MBA². (1) Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children, 2000 M St. NW, Suite 500, washington DC, DC 20036, (202)429-2954, usyed@dc.savechildren.org, (2) Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children USA, House 1A(2) Road 91, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh

An evaluation survey was conducted in Saving Newborn Lives program areas in October 2004 to draw evidence on the improvements in health knowledge, behavior and practices, particularly with reference to mothers' socioeconomic status.

Essential Newborn Care was packaged into existing programs of Government and three NGOs in 10 subdistricts. 30-cluster sampling method and structured questionnaire were used to interview 3110 mothers. Five socio-economic levels were defined using index of household assets comparable to DHS survey.

75% mothers in poorest quintile and 82% of richest quintile received 3 or more ANC by medically trained provider. Slightly higher proportion of poorest mothers (24%) thought 3+ ANC needed during pregnancy compared to mothers (14%) from richest quintile.

Delivery at home showed no differences between quintiles. However, 16% in richest quintiles went for facility delivery compared to 4% in poorest quintile. Skilled attendance at birth was lower in poorest quintile (3%) than richest quintile (13%), but trained birth attendant including trained TBAs were utilized almost equally (poorest 62%, richest 66%).

PNC for mothers and newborns by any provider showed little difference between poorest (52%) and richest quintiles (71%) but early PNC within 3 and 7 days by trained provider seemed to be positively associated with age, education and asset quintiles.

Door-to-door visits by community health workers, using simple message and materials, forming community support groups and involving community leaders resulted in equal service opportunity for both the poorest and richest quintiles.

This research made possible through support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Learning Objectives:

• Ensuring equity in essential newborn care services at the home and facility settings in select rural Bangladesh communities.

Keywords: Perinatal Health, Equal Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation