Improving the lives of mothers and infants in Malawi through community-based health promotion
Abstract
Maternal mortality in Malawi is amongst the highest in the world with 807 deaths per 100,000 live births. Neonatal mortality is also high and accounts for almost half of all infant deaths. High mortality rates are partly a result of poor health care for mothers and their infants caused by a lack of drugs and supplies, high turnover of health service providers, variable service quality and lack of ownership of health programmes by local communities. This case study describes research, funded by the Wellcome Trust and Save the Children - Saving Newborn Lives Program, and supported by the DFID funded Towards 4+5 Research Programme Consortium. It is assessing the effectiveness of community-based health promotion interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths and illness. The MaiMwana project is the first such programme to take place in Africa where issues such as HIV/AIDS and malaria have an impact on maternal and child health.
Citation
Towards 4+5 Case Study 1, 1 p.
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