Is Maternal and Child Health Handbook effective? : Meta-Analysis of the Effects of MCH Handbook
10.11197/jaih.27.121
- Author:
Baequni
;
Yasuhide Nakamura
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
maternal and child health;
handbook;
pregnancy;
delivery;
child health care;
meta-analysis
- From:Journal of International Health
2012;27(2):121-127
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:
Maternal and child health handbook (MCHH) consists of records of pregnancy, delivery, child development and immunization, as well as child growth charts. MCHH has been utilized in Japan since 1947 and it is now introduced in more than 20 countries in the world.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were to collect research documents and reports in the past studies of MCHH and to analysis the effect of MCHH on maternal and child health through systematic review.
Methods:
The systematic searches were conducted for the studies published between 1980 and October 2011. After the initial screening of titles and abstracts of the studies, we reviewed 57 documents which were studied for MCHH in maternal and child health (MCH) programs or activities. After the final selection, we identified only 5 documents with 43 question items in Indonesia (1999 and 2001), Bangladesh (2003), the Philippines (2009) and Cambodia (2010).
Results:
The relationship between MCHH and pregnancy care revealed that mothers who used MCHH during pregnancy had higher level of knowledge (OR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.22-1.70) than whose did not use MCHH during pregnancy. The strong significant effects of MCHH were observed in knowledge of antenatal care visit (OR 1.86, 95% CI: 1.59-2.18), and mother should consume more food during pregnancy (OR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.37-2.83). Mothers who got MCHH during pregnancy had safer practice by skilled birth attendants (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.95-1.32) and delivered in health facilities (OR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.12-1.53). MCHH showed the effect of knowledge of child health care (OR 1.22, 95% CI; 1.05-1.41).
Discussion:
This study utilizing meta-analyses showed MCHH had higher association with knowledge of mothers than practice in pregnancy and child health care, although the study has its limitation. The illumination of the relationship between knowledge and practice by the effect of MCHH needs more quantitative analysis in both community and hospital settings in many countries.
