The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38836

Ellen M. Themmen, MHS¹, Pamela L. Bolton, MHS¹, Isabella Chege, Rita Noronha³, Brahima Bassane, MD⁴, Ellen Brazier, MA⁵, and Michelle Trombley, BA⁶. (1) Africa Program, Family Care International, 588 Broadway, Suite 503, New York City, NY 10012, (2) Ubora Wa Afya Tanzania, c/o 588 Broadway, Suite 503, New York City, NY 10012, (3) Burkina Faso Office, Family Care International, c/o 588 Broadway, Suite 503, New York City, NY 10012, (4) Anglophone Africa Program, Family Care International, 508 Broadway, Suite 503, New York, NY 10025, (5) Skilled Care Initiative, Family Care International, 588 Broadway, Suite 503, New York City, NY 10012

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to describe four central components of the Skilled Care project intervention model, and understand how the Skilled Care approach can be applied to projects in which participants are involved.

PROJECT: The Skilled Care Initiative (SCI) aims to improve quality of obstetric care services and increase their utilization among disadvantaged rural populations. SCI is based on the principle that the most effective way to reduce maternal death rates is to ensure that women have skilled, qualified care during and after childbirth.

SETTING: Rural, underserved districts in Burkina Faso (Ouargaye), Kenya (Homa Bay, Migori) and Tanzania (Igunga).

MODEL: The SCI model strikes a balance between the sometimes-competing demands of a rigorous evaluation framework and those of a participatory approach to project implementation. The SCI intervention model features the following central components:

1. High degree of local input, with a structured needs assessment process in each country. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected, analyzed and shared with district health management teams and community members.

2. Application of innovative strategies for increasing care utilization, based on a Behavior Change Intervention (BCI) approach.

3. Rigorous evaluation of project outcomes using a prospective, quasi-experimental design. The design entails collecting before and after data at the facility-, community- and household-level in each project zone and a nearby comparison zone.

4. Intensive consultation and collaboration with technical partners to strengthen critical axes of intervention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe four central components of the Skilled Care project intervention model.
• Understand how the Skilled Care approach can be applied to projects in which participants are involved.

Keywords: Health Care Delivery, Maternal Well-Being

Related Web page: www.familycareintl.org/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Principal Partners of the Skilled Care Initiative: Ministries of Health in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Tanzania; Family Care International; Aberdeen University, Academy for Educational Development (CHANGE Project).
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.