Community Approaches to Child Health in Malawi: - CORE Group

IV. Results
In Malawi, World Relief’s 2000–2004 child survival project area reported
the following results at program end: Residents were far less likely to use
traditional healers, people stopped using bed nets for fishing, mothers
continued breastfeeding children even when pregnant, and children
and pregnant women were more likely to eat eggs, high in protein and
essential micronutrients. The program’s independent evaluator noted that
“community norms are gradually but steadily being re-shaped and realigned
with key messages, thereby setting standards for acceptable behavior.
A significant number of traditional healers abandoned their practice and
joined the program as volunteers, isolating and undermining the credibility
of those who resisted.” 9
Below are some highlights from the knowledge, practices and coverage
(KPC) survey conducted using a 30-cluster methodology at the beginning
and end of World Relief’s child survival project:
KPC Survey Highlights, World Relief Malawi Child Survival Projects
2000–2004 2005–2009
Baseline Final Baseline Mid-Term
Exclusive breastfeeding 36% 95% 40% 84%
Growth monitoring of children under 3 years of
age (Project Area 2 includes children under 5)
65% 97% 81% 94%
Pregnant women getting daily iron/folate 3% 76% 85% 87%
Children under 5 sleeping under a treated bed
net
Pregnant women sleeping under a treated bed
net (Project area 2 includes all mothers)
Pregnant women getting presumptive treatment
for malaria with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
Suspected malaria cases in children under age 2
were treated within 24 hours
Children