Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Programmes in India

A Programme Science Approach

Despite the existing plethora of knowledge and continuous efforts to identify synergies and integrate the interventions across the continuum of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), there is a lack of consensus on the best way forward to achieve the quickest reductions in maternal and child mortality rates in developing countries in a strategic and coordinated manner. This book fills the gap, and provides a strategic approach, process and tools for designing and implementing large-scale MNCH programmes that are covered by the health system. This strategic approach termed as ‘programme science’ embeds science into all phases of programme cycle to optimize results and resources in implementing large-scale MNCH programmes. The book argues, with examples from Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, that programme science as an approach can significantly improve the MNCH services in developing countries.