Home care practices for newborns in rural southern Nepal during the first 2 weeks of life.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Karas DJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3530276 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Home care practices for newborns in rural southern Nepal during the first 2 weeks of life.
Karas Dominique J DJ Mullany Luke C LC Katz Joanne J Khatry Subarna K SK LeClerq Steven C SC Darmstadt Gary L GL Tielsch James M JM
Journal of tropical pediatrics 20110624 3
The provision of essential newborn care through integrated packages is essential to improving survival. We analyzed data on newborn care practices collected among infants who participated in a community-based trial in rural Nepal. Analysis focused on feeding, hygienic, skin/cord care and thermal care practices. Data were analyzed for 23,356 and 22,766 newborns on Days 1 and 14, respectively. About 56.6% of the babies were breastfed within 24 h and 80.4% received pre-lacteal feeds within the firs ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundThe challenge of delivering multiple, complex messages to promote maternal and newborn health in the terai region of Nepal was addressed through training Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) to counsel pregnant women and their families using a flipchart and a pictorial booklet that was distributed to clients. The booklet consists of illustrated messages presented on postcard-sized laminated cards that are joined by a ring. Pregnant women were encouraged to discuss booklet content with their families.MethodsWe examined use of the booklet and factors affecting adoption of practices through semi-structured interviews with district and community-level government health personnel, staff from the Nepal Family Health Program, FCHVs, recently delivered women and their husbands and mothers-in-law.ResultsThe booklet is shared among household members, promotes discussion, and is referred to when questions arise or during emergencies. Booklet cards on danger signs and nutritious foods are particularly well-received. Cards on family planning and certain aspects of birth preparedness generate less interest. Husbands and mothers-in-law control decision-making for maternal and newborn care-seeking and related household-level behaviors.ConclusionsInterpersonal peer communication through trusted community-level volunteers is an acceptable primary strategy in Nepal for promotion of household-level behaviors. The content and number of messages should be simplified or streamlined before being scaled-up to minimize intervention complexity and redundant communication.
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