Community Health Care - Phase II

Results achieved as of the end of the project include: 224 communities representing 24 323 children under five and 2187 pregnant women are now implementing better child and maternal health practices and behaviours through the training of 432 health personnel 45 Nicaraguan Red Cross volunteers and 800 community health volunteers. This is shown by: an increase in exclusive breastfeeding of infants up to six months from 22% to 82%; an increase in the percentage of women from 0% to 90% with a “pregnancy plan” including the dates and number of prenatal check-ups the means of transportation to the hospital the use of a birth shelter etc.; and an average increase of 14% in the number of children under 2 years old who receive nutritious food in adequate amounts and frequency. All of the above contributed to healthier communities. This has been demonstrated amongst other indicators by a decrease in malnutrition in children under 1 from 11% to 7% and in malnutrition in children from 1 to 2 years from 18% to 12% as well as a decrease in the occurrence of infectious respiratory diseases from 52% to 30% for children under 1 year old and to 25% for children between 1 and 2 years old.