Maternal Survival: Improving Access to Skilled Care - A Behavior Change Approach

Through the CHANGE Project, the Manoff Group developed a framework and tools to identify behaviours related to women's use of skilled care and to increase this use during delivery and the postpartum period. Research in Kenya, Guinea and Bangladesh to test and adapt tools found that women, families, communities and providers were willing to try new practices and change behaviours that tend to increase the use of skilled care. However, for them to do so, maternal survival programmes must work with them to tailor activities to local contexts and use an integrated approach that promotes new practices in households, communities and health facilities.

This resource outlines the CHANGE Project's approach, with a focus on the following topics: Seeking Skilled Care for Childbirth: Learning from Women; Seeking Skilled Care During the Early Postpartum Period: Extended Roles for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and the Community; Preparing for Birth: Improving the Birth Preparedness Card; and Providing Skilled Care: Improving Caring Behaviorus of Health Workers.

Please note: The CHANGE Project officially ended June 2005.