Ukraine to Roll-Out International Perinatal Practices
The USAID Mission in Ukraine is expected to sign a new contract with John Snow Inc. to roll-out international mother and infant care practices nationwide. The new project, Mother and Infant Health Project (MIHP) 2, will start this fall and last for four years.
The new project will build on the successes of the USAID-funded Mother and Infant Health Project (MIHP), which has been working in Ukraine since 2002. The first MIHP project focused on developing internationally recognized evidence-based practices and standards for maternal and infant health care in Ukraine. Launched in four pilot regions, Crimea, Lviv, Donetsk and Volyn, the project gradually expanded to include 20 maternities in 12 oblasts.
The major components of MIHP included training staff in women’s clinics, maternities and pediatric clinics; development of standards and protocols with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health; behavior change and communication; and, the development of educational curriculum for medical educational institutions. Trainings for health care professionals and working groups on protocols development followed an initial series of trainings on evidence-based medicine.
In cooperation with the WHO European Division, the project developed an effective evidence-based training package on antenatal, perinatal, and pediatric care. Counseling and information for women and family members on birthing practices, contraception, baby care, nutrition, and feeding practices were an integral part of all perinatal trainings.
Major project achievements at pilot sites include a substantial decrease in incidences of hypothermia in newborns from 76% to 1%; an increase in the presence of companions in the delivery room from 3% to 72%; an increase of normal deliveries from 26% to 70%; a decrease of Caesarean sections from 31% to 17%; decreases in episiotomies from 25% to 4%; a decrease in infant mortality by approximately 30%; and—most important—no cases of maternal mortality in MIHP sites in 2005.
A cost study survey conducted by MIHP in three maternity wards last year showed that reductions in unnecessary (sometimes harmful) non-evidence-based medical interventions in birthing practices yielded significant savings. Donetsk Maternity N.3 reported $45,000 in savings, Lutsk Maternity saved $60,000 and Kovel Rayon Maternity conserved $10,000.
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Representatives of Oblast Health Authorities pin yellow-and-blue ribbons to the
Commitment Banner to show their commitment to implementing effective perinatal
practices in their regions during MIHP Dissemination Conference in September 2006
Photo Credit: Oleksander Golubov |
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