Community assessment and planning for maternal and child health programs : a particpatory approach in Ethiopia

Summary report of a community health needs assessment carried out in five communities in Ethiopia. Government health staff and community members were involved in identifying and prioritising maternal and child health problems and planning for actions to help solve them. A limited number of maternal and child health behaviours that are critical to the prevention and management of the most important causes of childhood morbidtiy and mortality were used as a focus to guide planning. An integrated household survey was then used to measure the indicators of those behaviours.