Effect on neonatal tetanus mortality after a culturally-based health promotion programme

Effect on neonatal tetanus mortality after a culturally-based health promotion programme
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Michael Elmore Meegan PhDa, Dr Ronán M Conroy MusBb, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Sarune Ole Lengenya, Kate Renhaultc and J Nyangole MDd

aICROSS Kenya, PO Box 507, Ngong Hills, Kenya

bRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Mercer Building, Dublin 2, Ireland

cFaculty of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada

dMinistry of Health, Kajiado District, Kenya

Available online 24 August 2001.

Summary

The Maasai have high rates of death from neonatal tetanus, partly due to their custom of packing the umbilical stump with cow dung. We report on the effect of a simple health promotion programme, designed in consultation with the local community and carried out by local women. After introduction of the programme in 1981, neonatal (<6 weeks of age) tetanus rates fell sharply, and by 1988 annual death rates had dropped to 0·75 (range 0–3) per 1000 births in the intervention areas compared with 82 (74–93) per 1000 in control areas.
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Corresponding Author Contact InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Ronán M Conroy