Bangladesh has made encouraging progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality over the past two decades. However, deaths are much higher than in many other countries. The death reporting system to address maternal, neonatal deaths and stillbirths is still poor. Moreover, cause identification for each of the community and facility deaths is not functional. The overall objective of this thesis is to develop, implement and evaluate the Maternal and Neonatal Death Review (MNDR) system in Bangladesh. The study has been conducted in two districts of Bangladesh. A mixed method is used in studies I and II, whereas a qualitative method is used in studies III-V, and cost of MNDR is calculated in study VI. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, group discussions, participant observations and document reviews are used as data collection techniques. Quantitative data are collected from the MNDR database. In study I, community death notification in the MNDR system was found to be achievable and acceptable at district level in the existing government health system. A simple death notification process is used to capture community-level maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths. It was useful for local-level planning by health managers. In study II, death-notification findings explored dense pocket areas in the district. The health system took local initiatives based on the findings. This resulted in visible and tangible changes in care-seeking and client satisfaction. Death numbers in 2012 were reduced in comparison with 2010 in the specific area. In study III, verbal autopsies at community level enabled the identification of medical and social causes of death, including community delays. Deceased family members cordially provided information on deaths to field-level government health workers. The health managers used the findings for a remedial action plan, which was implemented as per causal findings. In study IV, social autopsy highlights social errors in the community, and promotes discussion based on a maternal or neonatal death, or stillbirth. This was aneffective means to  deliver some important messages and to sensitize the community. Importantly, the community itself plans and decides on what should be done in future to avert such deaths. In study V, facility death review of maternal and neonatal deaths was found to be possible and useful in upazila and district facilities. It not only identified medical causes of death, but also explored gaps and challenges in facilities that can be resolved. The findings of facility death reviews were helpful to local health mangers and planners in order to develop appropriate action plans and improve quality of care at facility level. Finally, in study VI, the initial piloting costs required for MNDR implementation were estimated, including large capacity development and other developmental costs. However, in the following year, costs were reduced. Unit cost per activity was 3070 BDT in 2010, but, in the following years, 1887 BDT and 2207 BDT, in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an evidence-based intervention, recommended by the World Health Organization, with the potential to prevent neonatal deaths and morbidity among low-birthweight and preterm babies. In Bangladesh, where the number of neonatal deaths is high, KMC is identified as a priority intervention to be scaled up in the country. Our aim was to explore the experiences of caregivers and healthcare providers (HCPs) of KMC in Bangladesh. We conducted semi-structured interviews in two hospitals in Dhaka, where KCM service was provided. In Study I, we interviewed fifteen caregivers. The results showed conducive conditions for caregivers to perform KMC at the hospital and at home, but support is needed from both healthcare providers and their families. Caregivers felt empowered and motivated when they observed improvements in the child's well-being. However, there are challenges to KMC implementation due to the struggle to keep the baby skin-to-skin, pain after caesarean section, delayed initiation of KMC, and routines that promote an initial separation between the mother and baby. In Study II, we interviewed eleven HCPs. The results showed that HCPs experienced KMC as a continuous process that requires both support and counselling, adapted to caregivers’ needs. Commitment, supervision, and training are necessary. However, there are structural conditions that challenge KMC implementation, including clinical routines that promote the initial separation of the mother and baby, staff shortages, and incomplete follow-up. In conclusion, the findings from this exploratory research can inform the design of interventions for scaling up KMC in Bangladesh. Caregivers' and HCPs' experiences show that continuous support, counselling, and family involvement are essential in the care, and that providing KMC empowers caregivers. Their experiences also indicate that KMC is sub-optimally implemented due to structural conditions and routines that need to be addressed to scale up KMC in the country by avoiding the initial separation of mother and baby, meeting the mothers' needs for care and support, and strengthening the follow-up. Our results also suggest a need to update clinical practices in line with the new WHO recommendations. / <p></p><p></p><p></p>

The study was done to assess the information and care the men and women have on PCC and develop strategies that could improve provision of PCC that could advance maternal and newborn outcome after pregnancy in Malawi. Most for the interventions to improve pregnancy outcome are done too late in Malawi but there is an opportunity during preconception period to plan to improve the health of the couple so that the goal of a healthy mother and baby is attained. The objectives were to: explore and describe the knowledge men and women of childbearing age have on HTSP and PCC, identify variables that influence men and women to acquire appropriate knowledge on PCC and finally to develop strategies that could assist provision of PCC in developing countries like Malawi. Adverse issues that affect the couples could be addressed promptly before the occurrence of pregnancy. A quantitative non-experimental descriptive-correlation design method was used to determine the knowledge men and women of childbearing have on HTSP and PCC. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 300 men and women of childbearing age. The target population for the study was prospective parents that are couples that have an intention to conceive, women of childbearing age that could be accessible at family planning, gyneacological and under-five clinics between the ages of 18-35 years. A questionnaire was adapted from a study conducted in Texas. SPSS version 20 was used to analyse the data by generating frequencies and chi- square. Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine relationship between variables and knowledge on preconception care. The constructs examined were psychological preparation, reproductive health care and the physical care that are provided to ensure a healthy pregnancy outcome. With a 100% response rate the findings indicated a gap of information and care on PCC.Services on PCC were not available in the clinics which indicated a great need to empower health care providers on PCC that could reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rate. The findings were used to develop relevant preconception strategies that would assist health providers to give PCC that would improve maternal and newborn outcomes in Malawi. / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)