Burkina Faso - Child Survival success in rural areas using community-based and facility-based approaches

BACKGROUND – Burkina Faso's under-five mortality rate is one of the highest in the world, at 184 per 1,000 live births, mainly due to malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and meningitis. Malnutrition is a key contributing factor. THE PROGRAM – From 2006 to 2010, Plan International, a child-centered community development organization, implemented a Child Survival project in the provinces of Kourittenga, Ban and Sanmatenga Namentenga, with a total population of 1.5 million people. This project was implemented in partnership with local community associations (one per participating district) and the decentralized district health government authorities. Project activities included community education and mobilization, as well as reinforcing the capacities of existing community volunteers and of front-line government health workers. Of particular relevance were the community-based fairs. Each fair, a short-duration social event, was organized by the local associations and convened 2,000 to 7,000 people. Youth and child health groups provide edu-tainment activities (health-related songs, competitions, skits), and preventive activities are carried out (prenatal care, child and maternal immunizations, bed net distributions). Communities felt encouraged that their increased interest to improve healthy behaviors was matched with improvements in access and quality of care. RESULTS – At the end of 2010, complete child immunization coverage was 90%, prenatal care coverage was 90%, and skilled birth attendance was 79%. Moreover, the population surveyed showed a significant improvement in other health practices (e.g. sleeping under bed nets, handwashing). NEXT STEPS – Plan International is undergoing discussions with the provincial government authorities to sustain the implementation of community-based activities.