African Pharmaceutical Policy (Clinical/Public Health aspect) | 15 November 2008
Home-Based Child Healthcare Programmes and Neonatal Mortality Reduction in Rural Tanzania: An Evaluation
K, a, m, i, t, i, M, u, h, u, m, u, z, a
Abstract
Home-based child healthcare (HBCHC) programmes have been implemented in various settings to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The evaluation employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights through focus group discussions (FGDs) with key informants. Data collection was conducted across three districts representing diverse geographical and socio-economic settings. HBCHC programmes were associated with a significant reduction in neonatal mortality rates, particularly among infants born to mothers who received regular home visits from community health workers, with a decline of approximately 20% (95% CI: -18.4% to -21.6%). The HBCHC programmes demonstrated effectiveness in improving neonatal survival rates through targeted interventions and support provided by community health workers. Further research should explore the scalability of these programmes, including potential cost-effectiveness analyses and replication studies in other rural settings. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.