A newly released review, How Effective Is Community-Based Primary Health Care in Improving the Health of Children? summarizes current research findings concerning the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving the health of children in high-mortality, resource-poor settings.
The reiew affirms that many of the interventions and approaches that are promoted by CORE Group and its members are effective:
- Community-based treatment of childhood pneumonia
- Home-based neonatal care, which includes promotion of immediate and exclusive breastfeeding, promotion of cleanliness, prevention of hypothermia, and diagnosis and treatment of neonatal sepsis by Community Health Workers (CHWs)
- Community-based rehabilitation of children with protein-calorie malnutrition through provision of food supplementation (including rehabilitation of children with severe acutemalnutrition through the provision of ready-to-use dry therapeutic foods)
- Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) in malaria-endemic areas, indoor residual spraying in malaria-endemic areas
- Community-based treatment of malaria
- Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV infection
Developed by the Community-Based Primary Health Care Working Group, International Health Section American Public Health Association. Former CORE Group Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Perry was a lead study director for the development of this document.