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Rural neonatal care: Dahanu experience.
S R Daga1, A S Daga, R V Dighole
1Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra, Bombay.
Indian Pediatrics
|February 1, 1992
Summary
The Rural Neonatal Care Project successfully reduced neonatal and perinatal mortality by utilizing traditional birth attendants (TBAs) for essential newborn care interventions. This simple, affordable program also increased antenatal registration by 30%.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neonatal Medicine
- Rural Healthcare Delivery
Background:
- Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are crucial for neonatal care in rural settings.
- Effective interventions include maintaining the "warm chain," resuscitation, and identifying/transporting low birth weight/preterm infants.
- Accurate assessment of neonatal status is vital for timely referral.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Rural Neonatal Care Project in Maharashtra.
- To assess the role of TBAs in delivering essential neonatal care.
- To determine the effectiveness of foot length as a surrogate for birth weight in referral decisions.
Main Methods:
- The project utilized TBAs as the primary caregivers for neonatal care.
- Key interventions focused on "warm chain" maintenance and resuscitation.
- Foot length measurement from footprints served as a surrogate for birth weight to guide referrals.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in neonatal and perinatal mortality rates were observed over three years.
- Antenatal registration increased by 30% during the project period.
- The program demonstrated affordability and community acceptance due to its simplicity.
Conclusions:
- The Rural Neonatal Care Project effectively improved neonatal outcomes in rural Maharashtra.
- Empowering TBAs with simple, essential interventions is a viable strategy for reducing infant mortality.
- The use of foot length as a referral indicator proved practical and acceptable.