PRISMA/JHU identification of high risk families for child mortality in Peru

PRISMA. working with Johns Hopkins University, will develop a methodology for identifying these families and will train community members and health workers in using the methodology and providing child survival interventions. In-depth research will be conducted in two communities - one urban pueblo joven, and another in the rural area of Puno - to assess the relative importance of various child mortality risk factors including: a family history of infant mortality, low birth weights, early termination of breastfeeding, age of mother at first pregnancy, and birth spacing. A weighted risk score will be designed for each type of community based on this information and other data, including census data from the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNSA). Major emphasis will be put on motivating community members in the study areas to define their child health problems and to establish local groups to help in addressing them, especially through health and nutrition education. PRISMA will establish a community-based outreach program to train 200 health promoters (one mother for every 40 families) in the risk score technique and in child survival activities (e.g., oral rehydration therapy). PRISMA will also work with the Ministry of Health (MOH), with existing community groups, and with PVO"s to provide child survival interventions. Three seminars will be conducted, one per year, to train 300 MOH and PVO health professionals in risk scoring and child survival activities. Also, 750 manuals on the risk score technique and its use in health promoter training will be published for MOH health center directors (approximately 600) and PVO physicians (150) responsible for planning community programs. Prototype child survival health education materials for both urban and rural communities will be made available to public and private sector groups for replication and distribution.