title: Effect of Facilitation of Local Stakeholder Groups on Equity in Neonatal Survival; Results from the NeoKIP Trial in Northern Vietnam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To operationalize the post-MDG agenda, there is a need to evaluate the effects of health interventions on equity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect on equity in neonatal survival of the NeoKIP trial (ISRCTN44599712), a population-based, cluster-randomized intervention trial with facilitated local stakeholder groups for improved neonatal survival in Quang Ninh province in northern Vietnam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all mothers experiencing neonatal mortality and a random sample of 6% of all mothers with a live birth in the study area during the study period (July 2008-June 2011). Multilevel regression analyses were performed, stratifying mothers according to household wealth, maternal education and mother's ethnicity in order to assess impact on equity in neonatal survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the last year of study the risk of neonatal death was reduced by 69% among poor mothers in the intervention area as compared to poor mothers in the control area (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.66). This pattern was not evident among mothers from non-poor households. Mothers with higher education had a 50% lower risk of neonatal mortality if living in the intervention area during the same time period (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.90), whereas no significant effect was detected among mothers with low education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NeoKIP intervention promoted equity in neonatal survival based on wealth but increased inequity based on maternal education.
authors.affiliation: International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Målqvist
authors.affiliation: Hanoi School of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Dinh Phuong Thi
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hoa
authors.affiliation: International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars-Åke
authors.initials: LÅ
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.affiliation: International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ekholm Selling
mesh_terms: D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D000069576:Health Equity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009035:Mothers; D012923:Social Class; D014744:Vietnam