Dissemination of the safe motherhood advocacy package in Tanzania

Abstract

The White Ribbon Alliance Tanzania, which is a coalition of 102 organizations and 800 individuals interested in making childbirth safe, has advocated for the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality ratios (MMR/MNR) since its inception in 2004. In August 2007 the alliance conducted a baseline assessment followed by advocacy with district authorities and community mobilization for skilled health workers in Sumbawanga and Monduli Districts. A follow-up assessment was carried out six months after the advocacy activity. Advocacy and mobilization resulted in an increase of three skilled workers and a 50% increase in facility deliveries at 17 dispensaries in Sumbawanga. Seven dispensaries in Monduli had an increase of five skilled workers and 18 deliveries compared to 0 deliveries before the advocacy. This assessment concludes that advocacy contributed to changes in employment/deployment policy, and that community mobilization changed behavior, for example, the villagers opted to give birth at dispensaries, something they did not do before the mobilization.