Community-based interventions for mothers and newborns: Finding the right balance

While some progress has been made towards reaching MDG 4&5, many countries still lag behind. While universal skilled care at birth is a desirable strategy, nations such as Nepal are on track to achieve MDG 5 with less than 20% births with skilled providers. Many credit the progress made in Nepal to a number of interventions that are delivered at community level through community health workers. For key interventions that will save more lives by preventing postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, anemia , what is needed is universal coverage, something that is not possible when less than 50% of the world women have access to prenatal care. Such interventions can reach almost everyone who needs them if we are willing to trust non or semiliterate community volunteers with the responsibility of educating communities and distributing lifesaving commodities. We will examine several examples of how well chosen community interventions can complement skilled care at birth and save more lives.