Safe motherhood project : executive summary

The project objective was to increase timely referrals for obstetric emergencies from Korangi 8 to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) by training reproductive health care providers (HCPs) in Korangi 8 and by conducting a community-based information, education, and communication (IEC) strategy targeting pregnant women and their husbands. During its life, the project: (1) conducted indepth interviews with 30 men,30 women, and 15 HCPs in the intervention area eliciting information on obstetric complications; (2) developed materials for training HCPs; (3) conducted a 12-month training program for HCPs; (4) conducted pre- and post- knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) surveys among the HCPs; (5) developed a video on essential obstetric skills for HCPs; (6) developed printed information, education, and counseling material for the community on the four major obstetric complications; (7) conducted a baseline survey to assess knowledge and prevalence among men and women in the community regarding obstetric complications; (8) conducted pre- and post-evaluations of the counseling of pregnant women and their spouses; and (9) developed a simple health information system form for the clinic and tertiary hospital to track obstetric complications. Due to bureaucratic constraints at JPMC and the lack of adequately trained personnel, it was not possible to implement the planned health information system at either the JPMC or the local clinics. Despite the project"s short duration and the implementing agency"s inability to document behavior change, a significant change seems to have occurred in knowledge, both at the health care provider level and the community level. Other significant achievements included building capacity and initiating similar projects, e.g., a World Bank-sponsored safe motherhood research project in another poor district of Karachi. In addition, the training manual, the video, and the printed information, education, and counseling material can be used by health personnel in improving maternal health. A recommendation is that hospital/clinic facilities be utilized for essential obstetric skills training.