Training Course on Maternal and Child Health Program Design

Module 1 – Foundations of Maternal and Child Health
Subtopics:
Global and regional burden of maternal, newborn, and child mortality.
Key indicators: MMR, IMR, under-5 mortality, neonatal mortality.
Determinants of MCH: biological, socio-economic, cultural, and health system factors.
Global strategies: SDGs, Every Woman Every Child, WHO Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health.
Continuum of care: linking maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
Practical Activities:
Case Study Analysis: Review a country profile (e.g., Kenya, India, or Nigeria) on maternal mortality and discuss root causes.
Group Discussion: Identify barriers to achieving SDG 3.1 and 3.2 (maternal and child mortality reduction).
Quick Quiz: Key MCH indicators and their definitions.

Module 2 – Program Design Frameworks and Approaches
Subtopics:
Basics of program design: problem tree analysis, objectives tree.
Logic models and results frameworks (inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact).
Situation analysis tools (SWOT, PESTEL, stakeholder mapping).
Principles of equity, gender sensitivity, and cultural responsiveness in program design.
Aligning MCH program design with national health priorities.
Practical Activities:
Workshop: Participants create a problem tree for maternal mortality in a hypothetical community.
Exercise: Stakeholder mapping for an MCH program (government, NGOs, communities).
Mini-Project: Draft a simple logic model for an antenatal care program.

Module 3 – Evidence-Based Interventions for Maternal and Child Health
Subtopics:
Maternal health interventions: antenatal care packages, skilled birth attendance, postpartum care.
Newborn interventions: essential newborn care, neonatal resuscitation, kangaroo mother care.
Child health interventions: immunization, growth monitoring, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).
Nutrition interventions: exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation.
Innovations in MCH: mobile health (mHealth), telemedicine, community-based interventions.
Practical Activities:
Case Study: Analyze a successful intervention (e.g., Rwanda’s community health worker model).
Group Work: Rank interventions by cost-effectiveness and feasibility in a resource-limited setting.
Simulation: Designing an emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) referral system.

Module 4 – Community Engagement and Behavior Change in MCH
Programs
Subtopics:
Role of community health workers (CHWs) in MCH programs.
Strategies for engaging men, families, and community leaders.
Cultural and gender norms influencing maternal and child health.
Behavior change communication models (Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behavior, COM-B).
Advocacy and policy engagement at community and national levels.
Practical Activities:
Role Play: Simulate a community dialogue on increasing skilled birth attendance.
Exercise: Design a culturally sensitive communication campaign for exclusive breastfeeding.
Debate: Balancing traditional practices and modern MCH interventions.

Module 5 – Monitoring, Evaluation, and Sustainability of MCH Programs
Subtopics:
Importance of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in program design.
Key MCH indicators (coverage, quality, outcome, impact).
Data collection methods: surveys, facility data, digital health tools.
Using data for program improvement and advocacy.
Planning for sustainability: financial, political, and community ownership.
Practical Activities:
Exercise: Develop an M&E framework with indicators for a newborn health program.
Group Work: Identify sustainability strategies for scaling up a maternal nutrition intervention.
Capstone Project: Participants design a full MCH program for a selected setting, including situation analysis, interventions, community strategies, and an M&E plan.

Course Outcomes
Deep understanding of maternal and child health priorities and challenges.
Ability to design evidence-based and culturally appropriate MCH programs.
Skills in engaging communities and influencing behavior change.
Practical experience in developing M&E frameworks for MCH programs.
A complete program design (capstone project) ready for real-world adaptation