ABSTRACT
Anganwadi worker was involved in rural newborn care as a link between a dai and a health worker. She was trained to ensure that, (i) borderline LBW/preterm baby was kept warm at home and (ii) a very small baby was referred to hospital. The training was conducted during routine monthly meetings and cost of equipping each anganwadi worked out to be Rs 110. Newborn survival, infant survivals and overall MCH performance improved. Thus, newborn care formed an ideal entry point into MCH activities.
Subject(s)
Child Health Services , Community Health Workers , Home Care Services , Humans , India , Infant, Newborn , Neonatal Nursing/organization & administration , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
The Rural Neonatal Care Project, started by the Government of Maharashtra in the Ganjad Primary Health Centre, Dahanu block in Maharashtra, had the TBA as the sheet anchor for delivery of neonatal care. Maintenance of "warm chain" and resuscitation of an asphyxiated baby were recognized as the most important interventions besides detection of a very low birth weight/preterm baby and safe transportation of such a baby. Foot length measurement from foot print was used as a surrogate to birth weight as an indicator for referral. Neonatal and perinatal mortality rates dropped appreciably over 3 years and the antenatal registration went up by 30%. The cost of this programme is affordable and the programme itself was acceptable to the community and the TBAs because of its simplicity.