The project started in August 2008 following a baseline survey to document the existing health of mothers and children and to determine the priorities of the project.
Both the baseline assessment and the evaluation (Dec 2011) consisted of a quantitative survey and qualitative studies (focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews, and observation).
August 2008 - December 2011.
Project elements
Local health system strengthening through activities to:
- improve the capacity of the project working team to develop work plans, deliver health interventions, and manage budgets
- increase the knowledge and skills of health personnel to manage common childhood illnesses
- improve outreach activities and strengthen local referral systems.
Special focus on Nutrition included:
- volunteer community nutrition teams established to monitor child nutrition and promote healthy diets and healthy infant feeding practices
- outreach activities provided regular formal assessment of child growth
- ready-to-use foods were distributed to moderately and severely malnourished children.
Outreach activities aimed to:
- improve access to antenatal and postnatal care
- promote family planning
- increase immunisation coverage of children.
- teach mothers how to manage children with diarrhoea in the home
- distribute insecticide treated bed net to households
Results
Antenatal care
- More pregnant women could access antenatal care: 88% had at least 1 visit by a skilled health professional up from 69%; 53% had 4 or more visits up from 32%.
- More pregnant women received supplements: 86% received iron tablets compared with 55% in 2008; 79% received Vitamin B1 compared with 0%.
- More newborns are protected from tetanus: 79% of women were immune to tetanus compared with just 38% in 2008.
Care during childbirth
- More women delivered at the district hospital: 52% had a baby at the hospital up from 38%.
- Fewer women gave birth at home: 39% compared with 53%.
- More deliveries were attended by a trained health professional: 62% compared with 52% in 2008.
Feeding behaviours and child nutrition
- More new mothers feed their child soon after birth: 72% breastfed within two hours of delivery compared with 40% in 2008.
- Fewer women throw the colostrum away: 92% fed their baby colostrum, up from 69%.
- Fewer women feed their baby solids before 6 months: 41% down from 87% in 2008.
- Far fewer children suffer from acute malnutrition: 12.4% of children were malnourished in 2008 compared with just 5.3% in 2011
Child immunisations
- More children have an immunisation care: improving from 30% to 51%.
- More children received birth doses of BCG and hepatitis B: coverage of BCG vaccine went from 62% to 83%, and hepatitis B from 24% to 64%.
- More children are protected against measles: from 31% in 2008 to 87% in 2011.
Outcomes
- Improved care of women and children during the antenatal, natal and postnatal periods.
- Increased capacity of District health staff to plan and manage primary care services for women and children.
- Improved nutritional status of infants and children in Vilabouly District.
