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Improving Helath Seeking Behaviour of Mothers and Children (IHSBMC)

Overview of the Project

Enhancing the health behavior of mothers and children represents a crucial initiative aimed at addressing disparities in maternal and child health, ultimately securing the well-being of future generations. The importance of maternal and child health is a global priority. It is essential to ensure that mothers receive adequate care throughout their pregnancies and childbirth, while children receive proper nutrition and healthcare during their formative years. This is vital for reducing mortality rates and fostering healthy development. Despite notable progress in recent times, maternal and child mortality and morbidity rates remain alarmingly high in various parts of the world, particularly in low- and middle-income nations like Nepal. For instance, Nepal records a mortality rate (MR) of 151 per 100,000 live births, while the Sudurpashchim province reports an MR of 130 per 100,000 live births according to NDHS-2022.FAYA Nepal, in collaboration with the AMDA-MINDS Nepal Office, is actively implementing the "Improving Health Seeking Behavior of Mothers and Children (IHSBMC)" project in Chure rural municipality from March 2022 onwards. This project receives financial support from the Ministry of Federal Affairs of Japan (MoFA).

The project is dedicated to strengthening the health system of Chure rural municipality of Kailali District. The expected goal of this project is to improve maternal and child health (MCH) in the target area by achieving the objectives of MCH. Health-seeking behavior is improved among community members, and safe deliveries are promoted through the public health services in Chure RM. Moreover, the project seeks to enhance the MCH service system of public health institutions, and MCH awareness and knowledge of community members are improved. These endeavors constitute the pivotal outcome for the project's efficacy and impact assessment.

It was also aligned for contributing to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, which includes targets such as: 3.1: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio. 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services. Further, indicators relevant to Nepal’s context include: 2.2.1: Prevalence of stunting among children under five. 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio. 3.2.1: Under-five mortality rate. 3.2.2: Neonatal mortality rate.3. b.1: Proportion of surviving infants receiving vaccines.

Similarly, this project also contributed to Nepal’s Every Newborn Action Plan 2016, which targeted to reduce newborn mortality to 13 per 1000 live births by 2035. Likewise, the 15th Five-Year Development Plan (2019/20-2023/24) of the Government of Nepal emphasizes the importance of health and nutrition, with a specific focus on improving maternal, neonatal, and child health.

Impact: Maternal and child health (MCH) is improved in the target area.

Objective:

1-     MCH health seeking behavior is improved among community people in the targeted area.

2-     Safe deliveries are promoted through the public health services in Chure RM.

Outcomes:

1-     MCH service systems of public health institutions are enhanced.

2-     MCH awareness and knowledge of community people are improved