Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

Concerned about high levels of neonatal mortality, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district government in Pakistan expressed a need to adapt and test a new approach—commonly referred to as the “Made-In/Made-For” (MIMF) method—that uses community-based informants to estimate the number of maternal deaths. The current pilot study in Nowshera was commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and conducted by the Population Council to test the feasibility of using the method, and community-based informant networks that had been used to measure maternal mortality, for estimating neonatal deaths. This study clearly shows that, in addition to identifying maternal deaths, informant networks can be utilized for collecting other health and surveillance-related information, and for sensitizing and mobilizing communities to raise awareness of safeguards for avoidable deaths. Because of their influential positions, the community networks identified by this study can play an important role in creating community awareness for issues related to birth preparedness and newborn care. The report concludes with major health sector interventions recommended for reducing neonatal mortality in Nowshera.

DOI

10.31899/rh8.1085

Language

English

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