Targeted health education programs focusing on the family companions at hospitals can significantly improve key maternal and newborn health practices, found a study conducted by Noora Health Bangladesh under the direction of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The study findings were shared during a dissemination programme organized by the DGHS and Noora Health Bangladesh at the conference room of DGHS in Mohakhali.
Prof Dr Md Abu Jafor, Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Bangladesh addressed the meeting as the chief guest.
“Achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 is our national goal, and to reach this target, we must strengthen our health service system. The system should be well-integrated and comprehensive, which requires strong public–private partnerships, digitalization, and active community involvement,” he said.
The DG also said through the Care Companion Program (CCP), Noora Health is addressing all these key components. “This achievement is truly commendable, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to them.”
The meeting focused on presenting the effectiveness of Noora Health’s CCP sessions delivered across Special Care Neonatal Units (SCANUs).
Noora Health Bangladesh has conducted a study on the effectiveness of the Care Companion Program (CCP) in SCANUs across 13 health facilities in the country.
The study employed a quasi-experimental design to compare standard care with CCP, which provides structured caregiver education on newborn and postnatal care prior to hospital discharge.
Surveys were carried out at the hospital and during 30- and 60-day follow-ups with mothers whose babies had been admitted to SCANUs.
The evaluation found that CCP enhanced maternal knowledge and adoption of essential health practices, resulting in improved care behaviors at home and reduced hospital readmissions for both mothers and newborns.
The study revealed a remarkable increase in maternal knowledge and adoption of essential health practices.
According to findings presented by Jakia Yasmin, Research Associate of Monitoring and Evaluation at Noora Health, mothers who participated in the program were more than twice as likely to be aware of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and their practice of EBF was 26% higher.
The program also led to significant gains in other critical areas: Awareness of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) jumped to 59% in the intervention group, compared with just 23% in the control group.
The practice of KMC more than doubled, with 28% of mothers in the CCP group using this technique, compared to 13% in the control group.
Mothers who received health education were also 77% more likely to practice burping and showed notable improvements in umbilical cord care.
However, the study also revealed that improvements in areas such as hand hygiene and recognition of newborn danger signs were limited, underscoring the need for further strengthening of caregiver training in these aspects.
DGHS Additional Director General (Planning and Development), Prof. Dr. Sheikh Sayidul Haque, said, “Along with the nurses, we must also include other healthcare providers, doctors and management into the program. The linkage with the MIS is also critical. There should be regular visibility of the data generated by the CCP program at the field level.”
Dr Arefin Amal Islam, Co-country Director of Noora Health Bangladesh, shared the program updates. He shared, since 2022, through the Care Companion Program under the direction of DGHS, Noora Health Bangladesh has reached to about 14 lakh people with need based health education.
“We want the Care Companion Program to be included as an integral part of health service delivery and owned by the Government,” shared Dr Arefin.
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Dr. Umme Ruman Siddiqi, Asst. Director, Planning and Research, moderated the program. She mentioned that Noora Health Bangladesh has been working together with the Directorate General of Health Services since the time of the COVID response.
Director (Planning & Research), Dr. Afreena Mahmood said, “The Impact of the Care Companion Program is noteworthy and can be made more meaningful through active engagement of our central and local-level health manager along with systematic monitoring and functional collaboration with the partners on a regular basis.”