MNCH Programming in Southwest Uganda Maternal and Child Health In Bushenyi and Rubirizi Districts, UGANDA

Overview

The investigators will assess whether in Bushenyi District in southwestern Uganda, a two year intervention providing comprehensive MNCH programming will: * Reduce morbidity and mortality for children under five years old and; * Improve access to maternal health services Compared to a control community without MNCH intervention? Hypothesis: Comprehensive maternal, newborn and child health programming in Bushenyi Distrcit can have a positive impact on morbidity and mortality for children under five years and will improve access for women to maternal health services which may lead, in the longer term, to decreased maternal mortality.

A detailed impact assessment will be carried out for the duration of the MNCH training and support initiative in Bushenyi District, using mixed methods. The study will assess 8 of the 11 key core MNCH indicators as identified by CIDA as a priority. Other information to be collected such as demographics and patterns of health care use, and prevalence of disease will help health planners in the districts, and will be helpful in sub analysis and interpretation of findings. The main study will use household surveys in both districts at baseline, midline and endline. Other tools will include pre and post qualitative surveys (FGDs, KII) and analysis of operational data. The main study group will be representative communities and health centres within Bushenyi District who will receive intervention between 2012 and 2014; Rubirizi District will serve as a control area for this study but will received selected MNCH services starting in 2013 after midline data are collected.