Putul Naach' - Using community puppet shows to increase awareness and utilization of newborn health services in selected urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Summary:
Bangladesh is undergoing a rapid urbanization process. Utilization of health services among urban slum residents, who comprise one-third of all urban residents, is very poor with a high burden of preventable newborn deaths. 19.8% of newborns deaths occur due to preterm birth complications. To address this gap, Save the Children in Bangladesh (SCiBD) implements the Improving Newborn Survival Project (INSP) to improve utilization and quality of newborn care services, specifically Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in selected urban health facilities and among urban slum communities. A situational analysis found that slum dwellers had no knowledge of pre-term birth complications or care for low birthweight babies and the literacy level and maternal and newborn health (MNH) knowledge among mothers and caregivers was low. INSP conducts puppet shows as a unique and entertaining community engagement and demand creation approach that appeals to audiences of all ages and literacy levels. Through the use of folk songs in Bangla, the puppet shows tell the story of an adolescent mother and her premature baby. The performances raise awareness of key MNH issues: essential newborn care, preterm complications, newborn danger signs, and Kangaroo Mother Care to improve survival of small or preterm babies. The show's objectives are to improve knowledge and care-seeking practices among first-time and young parents/caregivers of newborns, as well as to increase referrals to facility-based care in urban slum communities. The puppet shows are performed across 18 urban communities to maximize reach across the project impact area.
Background/Objectives:
Utilization of health services among urban slum residents, one-third of all urban residents, is very poor in Bangladesh, where 19.8% of newborns deaths occur due to preterm birth complications. Save the Children in Bangladesh implements the Improving Newborn Survival Project (INSP) to improve referrals to, utilization of, and quality of newborn care services, specifically Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), in selected urban facilities and slums. A situational analysis found that community members had no knowledge of pre-term birth complications or appropriate care for low birthweight babies, and the literacy level and MNH knowledge among mothers was low.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Using simple story lines with a focus on essential MNH issues and practices, the newborn health puppet show encourages audience members to seek appropriate care for mothers and newborns by engaging them in discussions about maternal health and care for newborns, particularly preterm or small babies. A trained community health worker attends each performance to answer questions and provide referrals to health services while participating in interactive audience discussions. Anecdotal findings indicate that audiences enjoy learning about newborn health and KMC for the first time through the show. The puppet shows will be conducted between November 2019 to February 2020, thus qualitative findings are pending. Planned focus group discussions will evaluate the effectiveness of the shows and will gather information on knowledge shifts about MNH practices and services, the acceptability of the medium to learn about MNH topics, and intent to use health services among audience members.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
In Bangladesh, puppet shows are rarely performed in public venues for urban slum communities about health topics, despite their ability to disseminate important information to large audiences. Puppetry is an entertaining approach to sharing information and engaging diverse audiences of varying ages and educational backgrounds in discussions about the behaviors or norms that impact health outcomes. The shows can raise awareness for MNH services to improve care seeking and service utilization. Given its broad appeal, this approach should be integrated into programs that focus on behavior change including shifting norms to address health disparities in urban settings.
Abstract submitted by:
Wahida Siraj - Save the Children
Sharmin Akter - Save the Children
Md. Arshad Hussain - Save the Children
Gabrielle Nguyen - Save the Children
Lyndsey Wilson-Williams - Save the Children
Joseph De Graft-Johnson - Save the Children
Bangladesh is undergoing a rapid urbanization process. Utilization of health services among urban slum residents, who comprise one-third of all urban residents, is very poor with a high burden of preventable newborn deaths. 19.8% of newborns deaths occur due to preterm birth complications. To address this gap, Save the Children in Bangladesh (SCiBD) implements the Improving Newborn Survival Project (INSP) to improve utilization and quality of newborn care services, specifically Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in selected urban health facilities and among urban slum communities. A situational analysis found that slum dwellers had no knowledge of pre-term birth complications or care for low birthweight babies and the literacy level and maternal and newborn health (MNH) knowledge among mothers and caregivers was low. INSP conducts puppet shows as a unique and entertaining community engagement and demand creation approach that appeals to audiences of all ages and literacy levels. Through the use of folk songs in Bangla, the puppet shows tell the story of an adolescent mother and her premature baby. The performances raise awareness of key MNH issues: essential newborn care, preterm complications, newborn danger signs, and Kangaroo Mother Care to improve survival of small or preterm babies. The show's objectives are to improve knowledge and care-seeking practices among first-time and young parents/caregivers of newborns, as well as to increase referrals to facility-based care in urban slum communities. The puppet shows are performed across 18 urban communities to maximize reach across the project impact area.
Background/Objectives:
Utilization of health services among urban slum residents, one-third of all urban residents, is very poor in Bangladesh, where 19.8% of newborns deaths occur due to preterm birth complications. Save the Children in Bangladesh implements the Improving Newborn Survival Project (INSP) to improve referrals to, utilization of, and quality of newborn care services, specifically Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), in selected urban facilities and slums. A situational analysis found that community members had no knowledge of pre-term birth complications or appropriate care for low birthweight babies, and the literacy level and MNH knowledge among mothers was low.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Using simple story lines with a focus on essential MNH issues and practices, the newborn health puppet show encourages audience members to seek appropriate care for mothers and newborns by engaging them in discussions about maternal health and care for newborns, particularly preterm or small babies. A trained community health worker attends each performance to answer questions and provide referrals to health services while participating in interactive audience discussions. Anecdotal findings indicate that audiences enjoy learning about newborn health and KMC for the first time through the show. The puppet shows will be conducted between November 2019 to February 2020, thus qualitative findings are pending. Planned focus group discussions will evaluate the effectiveness of the shows and will gather information on knowledge shifts about MNH practices and services, the acceptability of the medium to learn about MNH topics, and intent to use health services among audience members.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
In Bangladesh, puppet shows are rarely performed in public venues for urban slum communities about health topics, despite their ability to disseminate important information to large audiences. Puppetry is an entertaining approach to sharing information and engaging diverse audiences of varying ages and educational backgrounds in discussions about the behaviors or norms that impact health outcomes. The shows can raise awareness for MNH services to improve care seeking and service utilization. Given its broad appeal, this approach should be integrated into programs that focus on behavior change including shifting norms to address health disparities in urban settings.
Abstract submitted by:
Wahida Siraj - Save the Children
Sharmin Akter - Save the Children
Md. Arshad Hussain - Save the Children
Gabrielle Nguyen - Save the Children
Lyndsey Wilson-Williams - Save the Children
Joseph De Graft-Johnson - Save the Children
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: Save the Children via YouTube