Premium
Community‐driven impact of a newborn‐focused behavioral intervention on maternal health in Shivgarh, India
Author(s) -
Kumar Vishwajeet,
Kumar Aarti,
Das Vinita,
Srivastava Neeraj M.,
Baqui Abdullah H.,
Santosham Mathuram,
Darmstadt Gary L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.10.031
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , health care , randomized controlled trial , standardized mortality ratio , pregnancy , family medicine , environmental health , population , nursing , surgery , biology , economics , genetics , economic growth
Objective To assess the effect on maternal health outcomes of a community‐based behavior change management intervention for essential newborn care leading to a reduction in neonatal mortality. Methods A cluster‐randomized controlled trial involving 1 control and 2 intervention arms was conducted in Shivgarh, India, between January 2004 and May 2005. Risk‐enhancing domiciliary newborn care behaviors, including those posing a concomitant risk to maternal health, were targeted through home visits and community meetings. Secondary outcomes included knowledge of maternal danger signs, self‐reported complications, maternal care practices, care‐seeking from trained providers, and maternal mortality ratio (MMR). The intervention arms were combined for analysis, which was done by intention to treat. Results Significant improvements were observed in maternal health equity and outcomes including knowledge of danger signs, care practices, self‐reported complications, and timely care‐seeking from trained providers. The difference in adjusted MMR was not significant (relative risk 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–1.43; P = 0.11) owing to the inadequate sample size for this outcome, but may suggest a decline in MMR given improvements in other outcomes in the causal pathway to mortality. Conclusion Community‐based strategies focused on prevention and care‐seeking effectively complemented facility‐based strategies toward improving maternal health, while synergizing with newborn care interventions.