Community-based interventions to support maternal and child health practices in Upper Egypt.

Background: Actions to improve mother and child health should address the needs and demands of the local population. Community-based interventions contribute to understanding the current situation, mobilization of local resources, commitment to achievements and better chance for sustainability.

Aims: This was a community-based intervention implemented in two Upper Egypt governorates to improve coverage of selected maternal and child health interventions in Egyptian villages.

Methods: The study was conducted between May 2016 and December 2017. The National Population Council started communication with Governorate leaders, Directors of Local Unit, Health District and Health Unit to facilitate implementation. A three-day training of trainers workshop was held for eight public health universities' staff from two selected governorates. More than 30 National Population Council coordinators were trained for using an observation checklist. University trainers implemented a four-day workshop attended by 37 Mother and Child Friends participants from Fayoum and 38 from Beni-Sweif. The Mother and Child Friends team selected 1200 women to attend the Health education sessions, and a total of 143 and 121 women participated in the focus group discussions before the first and after the last Health education session for evaluation.

Results: An 18 items pre-test questionnaire completed by the trainees was useful to identify major gaps in knowledge and to evaluate the effect of training. There was significant improvement in the post-test in Fayoum (15.6 ± 1.3 SD) and in Beni-Sweif (14.1± 1.5 SD). Likert scale evaluation revealed Mother and Child Friends satisfaction with the training and Mother and Child Friends team provided Health education to the participants. Most of the sessions had no negative comments by the observers. Focus group discussions held after the Health education classes revealed positive changes in the participants' knowledge and attitude.

Conclusions: Implementation revealed that more needs were expressed by women and the Mother and Child Friends team. Future activities should consider customization to address community needs and expectations.