Indian women represent one in every seven of the 85 million women who experience unintended pregnancy each year. This high concentration is likely due to limited engagement with the local health system and puts women at risk of maternal health complications like pre-eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum pre-eclampsia. Nabamllika Dehingia and colleagues assessed … [Read more...] about Unintended pregnancy and maternal health complications: cross-sectional analysis of data from rural Uttar Pradesh, India
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
Effectiveness of community health workers in improving early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates in a low‐resource setting: A cluster‐randomized longitudinal study
Early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life are linked to improved neonatal health and development. Dorothy Mituki-Mungiria and her colleagues explored how effective CHWs are in teaching mothers to breastfeed in the first hour after birth and continuing exclusive breastfeeding for 24 weeks postpartum. CHWs were very successful at … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of community health workers in improving early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates in a low‐resource setting: A cluster‐randomized longitudinal study
Home visits by community health workers in rural South Africa have a limited, but important impact on maternal and child health in the first two years of life
Generalist CHWs were integrated into the South African health care system in 2011 to support limited availability of primary health care providers. Areas particularly needing support included rural communities struggling to address maternal and child health needs. Linnea Stansert Katzen and her colleagues followed 313 mothers in two rural South African areas over the course of … [Read more...] about Home visits by community health workers in rural South Africa have a limited, but important impact on maternal and child health in the first two years of life
The Effects of Community Home Visit and Peer Group Nutrition Intervention Delivery Platforms on Nutrition Outcomes in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The authors in this study highlight the importance of CHW-led delivery systems aimed at improving nutrition-focused interventions. A systematic literature search produced results that indicate an increase in early initiation of breastfeeding, children’s minimum dietary diversity, and minimum meal frequency. The data indicate that CHWs improve infant and child nutritional health … [Read more...] about The Effects of Community Home Visit and Peer Group Nutrition Intervention Delivery Platforms on Nutrition Outcomes in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Malaria knowledge and experiences with community health workers among recently pregnant women in Malawi
In Ghana, intermittent preventive therapy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is recommended for pregnant women to prevent malaria. This household survey assessed the results of community-based IPTp-SP provision by CHWs. Results show women had positive experiences with CHWs, knowledge malaria in pregnancy did not improve markedly, but served by CHWs had a higher chance of … [Read more...] about Malaria knowledge and experiences with community health workers among recently pregnant women in Malawi