Community-based interventions to improve neonatal survival in low-resource settings

As child mortality declines globally, neonatal mortality (death in the 1st month of life) has become an increasingly important cause of under-5 deaths. Emerging evidence showing the effectiveness of low-cost community-based interventions proves that expensive hospital interventions are not needed to make progress with newborn survival in low-income countries where the vast majority of deaths occur. This paper discusses the use of two approaches to community-based interventions: home visits by community health workers and participatory women's groups. Both are shown to reduce neonatal mortality but they might also have synergy when combined. Although further research is needed to explore contextual factors which might amplify or limit the degree of effect achievable, these interventions look very promising as a low-cost and sustainable approach towards Millennium Development Goal 4.