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Community-Health Worker Partnership to improve
access to postnatal care in rural areas: report of
field project
Garba M. Ashir1*, Mustapha G. Modu1,
Babagana Bako2, Mustapha Bello1,
Adamu I. Rabasa1, Alhaji M. Arab1,
Yusuf A. Yusufari3, Eric E. Amuah3,
Mohammed Liman4, Baaba B Hafsat5
1Department
of Paediatric, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department
of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of
Maiduguri, Nigeria.
3PRRINN-MNCH
Program, Damaturu, Yobe state Nigeria.
4State
Ministry of Health, Damaturu, Yobe state, Nigeria.
5Department
of O&G, State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri,
Maiduguri, Borno State.
*Corresponding author E-mail:
ashirugarba@yahoo.com; Mobile: +2348065406306
Accepted 16 August, 2012
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Access to quality postnatal care (PNC) services
remain poor in Nigeria. According to the 2008
Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey,
the national coverage of PNC visits was only 44% and
more than 70% of mother’s who give birth at home do
not see any healthcare provider during the postnatal
period at all.
Community-based intervention aimed testing the
impact of integrated maternal newborn and child
health (MNCH) outreach services by community health
extension worker (CHEW). A community-CHEW
partnership was formed. Serials of competency-based
training on essential of newborn care were given to
the CHEW. The impact of this model on PNC was
evaluated. Significantly more intervention newborns
received PNC by CHEWs within 48hrs of birth and at
least 3 PNC visits during the first week of life
[89% Vs 5%; p=0.00 and 94% Vs 11%;p=0.00
respectively]. Similarly, treatment and referral
percentages for neonatal sepsis is significantly
high in the intervention group [20% Vs 6%; p=0.00
and 38% Vs 0%; p=0.00 respectively]. Community
Health Extension Worker-driven outreach was
successful in improving the PNC coverage of a
vulnerable group of remote newborns. The partnership
model is easily adapted to our primary health
system.
Keywords:
Community-Health Worker, Postnatal Care, Nigeria.
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