Monitoring Indicators for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health at Sub Primary Health Care Centers in Baghdad City: An Evaluative Study

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the application of monitoring indicators for maternal, newborn and
child health through the evaluation of impact and coverage health indicators and to evaluate the usefulness of the
application of these indicators at sub primary health care centers in Baghdad City.
Methodology: A descriptive comparative design, which is using the evaluation approach, has been steered at
Sub Primary Health Centers of Baghdad City in order to evaluate the application; impact and coverage, and the
usefulness of monitoring indicators for maternal, newborn and child health from December 4th 2017 to April 29th
2018. A multistage, "non-probability" convenient, sample is selected for the present study. A total of six Sub
Primary Health Centers in Al-Karkh Health Directorate, compared with six Sub Primary Health Centers in AlRussafa
Health Directorate. A questionnaire is adopted from the World Health Organization "health monitoring
maternal, newborn and child health: understanding key progress indicators" and developed for the purpose of the
present study. Content validity and internal consistency reliability are determined for the study instrument
throughout a pilot study. Data were collected through the utilization of the study instrument and the structured
interview technique as means of data collection. Data were analyzed through the application of descriptive
statistical data analysis approach of frequency, percentage, mean, total scores and range and inferential statistical
data analysis approach that includes t-test.
Results: Findings of the study revealed that the maternal, newborn and child health indicators are not perfectly
applied and experiencing some deficiencies in their application at the sub primary health care centers.
Confirmatory data analysis throughout hypothesis testing has revealed that sub primary health care centers are
experiencing almost the same problems relative to the impact, coverage and usefulness of these indicators.
Recommendations: The study recommends that the Ministry of Health and Environment Public Health
Directorate can take serious planning for action in applying these indicators, periodic and systematically driven
monitoring and evaluating the application of such indicators, and focal personnel can be encouraged to
participate in training sessions and workshops for the benefits of applying these indicators