Main Achievements

Whilst addressing the primary health needs of the population to which a comprehensive humanitarian response is essential, Family Care developed and implemented comprehensive indicators for monitoring and evaluation of its activities in Nagorno Karabagh. It is clear that enormous gains were made in the first 32 months of program in support of Maternal and Child Health care. The main achievements were as follows:

Positive trends in health care statistics based on accuracy in reporting (using internationally defined peri-natal statistics) :


Decrease in numbers of 'normal "newborn transferred to special care based
on inappropriate diagnosis of 'morbidity' at birth from 20 % down to 2%

in Nagorno Karabagh.

 


Reduction in early neonatal mortality due to better case management of sick newborn
in Stepanakert central maternity during the life of the project (14.2 per 1000 live births
in 1997; 11.2 per thousand in 1998; 7.1 per 1000 in 1999 and 6.1 per thousand in 2000).

 


Increased awareness in the community of the importance of good prenatal and
intra-natal care illustrated by the 40% sustained increase in attendance of women
for prenatal care in the central maternity hospital and attendance of husbands or
another relative at the birth both centrally and in regions.

 


Sound sustained changes in practice of health providers based on newly taught
evidence based care and protocols; examples of positive impact were: (1) the rapid
decrease in numbers of cases of birth trauma which was previously caused by
unnecessary interference in the delivery process; (2) The role and responsibilities
of midwives was significantly increased, lessening that of obstetricians in normal
physiological labour.

 


Increased participation of clinicians in the process of developing in-hospital training
refresher courses for local staff.

 


Increased parent satisfaction with service based on exit interviews including
that concerning the participation of husbands/ partners in a supportive role
and involvement of parents in the care of sick and premature newborn
.

 


Sustained interest of staff to maintain the improved working conditions of the facilities
in terms of good maintenance of buildings and equipment in all assisted facilities.