The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67997

Reginald Gipson, Healthy Mother / Healthy Child, John Snow, Inc., 21 MISR Helwan Agricultural Rd., 10th floor, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt, 011 202 359 1487, rgipson@jsiegypt.com and Esmat Mansour, MD, Undersecretary for Primary Health, Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt, 21 El-Sabaa Sakayat St., Fom El-Khalig, Cairo, Egypt.

The Healthy Mother/Healthy Child (HM/HC) project employs an institutiona1 development approach, integrating specific policy, technical, managerial and behavioral strategies to achieve measurable and sustainable outcomes relevant to increased use and improved quality of essential maternal, perinatal, and neonatal health services in Upper (southern) Egypt. Funded by USAID, HM/HC is implemented by Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population with technical support from John Snow, Inc. Study data (1992-93 National Maternal Mortality Study -NMMS) indicated 92% of maternal deaths were associated with one of three avoidable factors: delay il1 seeking medical care on the part of women/households, substandard delivery care by obstetric teams, and a lack of medications, supplies and equipment in health facilities. HM/HC aims to substantially improve the quality of services by addressing concerns at all strata of the Egyptian health care system: ministerial (national), governorate (province), district, facility and community/household levels. Qua1ity of service improvement is achieved through the establishment of standards for facilities and care, and subsequent implementation of these standards through upgrades (renovations, commodities) and training (education. assessment). Complementary mass media campaigns and community education programs are used to increase knowledge and improve health behavior in women/households. Involvement of local NGOs and formation of cross-functional management teams foster active and responsive connections within and between the various levels of the health care system. Effectiveness of the program is substantiated by the results of the 2000 NMMS, which indicated a 59% decline in the maternal mortality ratio for Upper Egypt since 1992-93: 89 vs. 217/100,000 live births respectively.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
• Describe the main factors influencing the high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality in Egypt;
• Enumerate the seven different services provided by the project to improve essential maternal, perinatal and neonatal health;
• Identify the programs that were designed and implemented to achieve a reduction in maternal and neonatal morbidity;
• Evaluate the achievements as evidenced by a dramatic reduction in mortality.

Keywords: International MCH, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.