Authors: Faiz A Hashmi, Oskar Burger, Cristine H Legare
This study looked at how community health workers (ASHAs) and traditional birth attendants (Dais) influence maternal and newborn care in rural Bihar, India. ASHAs mainly supported mothers during pregnancy and labor, helping increase antenatal visits and institutional deliveries. Dais had more influence after birth, promoting traditional practices like newborn massage. When both worked together, breastfeeding improved, though guidance sometimes conflicted for other practices like cord care. Families often combined both approaches. The findings suggest that ASHAs and Dais can complement each other, and coordinated training and collaboration could make maternal and newborn care more effective and culturally acceptable.
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Resource Topic: Maternal and Child Health, Maternal healthcare, Perinatal care
Resource Type: Mixed Methods
Year: 2025
Region: Asia
Country: India
Publisher May Restrict Access: No