Examining the evidence of under-five mortality reduction in a community-based programme in Gaza, Mozambique

Anbrasi Edward, Pieter Ernst, Carl Taylor, Stan Becker, Elisio Mazive, Henry Perry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Effective implementation of programmes with the community Integrated Management of Childhood Illness model has demonstrated improvements in care-seeking behaviours and utilisation of health services. The child survival programme implemented in Chokwe district of Gaza province, Mozambique, achieved high coverage for bed net use (80%), oral rehydration therapy for children with diarrhoea (94%) and prompt care-seeking from trained providers for children with danger signs. The project also instituted a community-based vital registration and health information system for routine surveillance of births, deaths and childhood illnesses using an extensive network of 2300 volunteers. Evidence from this system indicated a 66% reduction in infant mortality and a 62% reduction in under-five mortality. To check the reliability of the findings, an independent mortality assessment was carried out using a pregnancy history questionnaire with a sample population of 998 women using standard methodologies applied in the Demographic and Health Surveys. The mortality survey showed reductions of 49% and 42% in infant and under-five mortality, respectively. The leading causes of death identified by verbal autopsies were malaria (30%), neonatal causes (17%) and pneumonia (21.3%). These findings suggest that effective community-based partnerships that support the delivery of health services can contribute to mortality reductions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)814-822
Number of pages9
JournalTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume101
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007

Keywords

  • Child survival
  • Community IMCI
  • Community-based health
  • Mozambique
  • Under-five mortality
  • Vital registration systems

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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