Neonatal health program management in a resource-constrained setting in rural Uttar Pradesh, India.
This analysis identifies salient features of team management that were critical to the efficiency of program implementation and the effectiveness of behavior change management to promote essential newborn care practices in Uttar Pradesh, India. In May 2003, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and King George Medical University initiated a cluster-randomized, controlled neonatal health research program. In less than 2 years, the trial demonstrated rapid adoption of several evidence-based newborn care practices and a substantial reduction in neonatal mortality in intervention clusters. Existing literature involving research program management in resource-constrained areas of developing countries is limited and fails to provide models for team organization and empowerment. The neonatal research project examined in this paper developed a unique management strategy that provides an effective blueprint for future projects. Transferable learning points from the project include emphasizing a common vision, utilizing a live-in field site office, prioritizing character and potential in the hiring process, implementing a learning-by-doing training program, creating tiers of staff recognition, encouraging staff autonomy, ensuring a broad staff knowledge base to seamlessly handle absences, and maintaining the flexibility to change partnerships or strategies.
Thomas
Abigail
A
Department of International Health, International Center for Advancing Neonatal Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Kumar
Vishwajeet
V
Bhandari
Mahendra
M
Ahuja
Ramesh C
RC
Singh
Pramod
P
Baqui
Abdullah H
AH
Awasthi
Shally
S
Singh
J V
JV
Santosham
Mathuram
M
Darmstadt
Gary L
GL
D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D009313:National Health Programs; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D040841:Resource Allocation; D014481:United States