title: Effect on neonatal tetanus mortality after a culturally-based health promotion programme.
abstract: The Maasai have high rates of death from neonatal tetanus, partly due to their custom of packing the umbilical stump with cow dung. We report on the effect of a simple health promotion programme, designed in consultation with the local community and carried out by local women. After introduction of the programme in 1981, neonatal (<6 weeks of age) tetanus rates fell sharply, and by 1988 annual death rates had dropped to 0.75 (range 0-3) per 1000 births in the intervention areas compared with 82 (74-93) per 1000 in control areas.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Meegan
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Lengeny
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Renhault
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyangole
mesh_terms: D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013742:Tetanus / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome