Community participation eludes Pakistan’s maternal, newborn and child health programme

This study looked at the comprehensiveness of the primary health care approach being applied in Pakistan’s National Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Programme launched in 2005. The methods included a review of the programme’s guideline documents, in-depth interviews with managers/advisors and focus group discussions with community groups and service providers. The MNCH Programme is applying a selective primary care model. Programme advisors and managers were concerned about the quality of training, political interference and incomplete implementation. Service providers were not working together as envisioned. Community midwives complained about the community’s perceptions of them. Community members were unaware of MNCH Programme implementation in their areas. Pakistan’s primary health care programme needs to be reviewed and revised according current thinking on community participation and inter-sectoral collaboration to accelerate progress towards achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.