MNCH Programming in Southwest Uganda Maternal and Child Health In Bushenyi and Rubirizi Districts, UGANDA (HCUM)

MNCH Programming in Southwest Uganda Maternal and Child Health In Bushenyi and Rubirizi Districts, UGANDA

The investigators will assess whether in Bushenyi District in southwestern Uganda, a two year intervention providing comprehensive MNCH programming will: Reduce morbidity and mortality for children under five years old and; Improve access to maternal health services Compared to a control community without MNCH intervention? Hypothesis: Comprehensive maternal, newborn and child health programming in Bushenyi Distrcit can have a positive impact on morbidity and mortality for children under five years and will improve access for women to maternal health services which may lead, in the longer term, to decreased maternal mortality.

A detailed impact assessment will be carried out for the duration of the MNCH training and support initiative in Bushenyi District, using mixed methods. The study will assess 8 of the 11 key core MNCH indicators as identified by CIDA as a priority. Other information to be collected such as demographics and patterns of health care use, and prevalence of disease will help health planners in the districts, and will be helpful in sub analysis and interpretation of findings. The main study will use household surveys in both districts at baseline, midline and endline. Other tools will include pre and post qualitative surveys (FGDs, KII) and analysis of operational data. The main study group will be representative communities and health centres within Bushenyi District who will receive intervention between 2012 and 2014; Rubirizi District will serve as a control area for this study but will received selected MNCH services starting in 2013 after midline data are collected.

protocols and training for data collection, referrals, and management for health district. Training in obstetrics, newborn care and management of sick children for health workers, Increased community health promotion such as training of CHWs, health centre management teams and bednet distribution

training at health district level in management, data collection. Training at health centres in obstetrics and pediatrics and training in community of CHWs and bednet distribution

proportion of pregnant women who have attended antenatal care four or more times; proportion of women whose most recent delivery was attended by a skilled birth attendant; met need for contraception (CIDA indicator)

Inclusion Criteria: all households living in selected communities; all women 15-49 living in selected communities Exclusion Criteria: none