1. Reducing the Incidence of Low Birth Weight using a Community based Life Cycle strategy: An Introduction RANCHI LOW BIRTH WEIGHT PROJECT Dr. Subrato K. Mondal Ronita Chattopadhyay Ranchi, 9 th October 2006

2. Project Partners Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra Child In Need Institute Social Initiatives Group, ICICI Bank In collaboration with: Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, GoJ Department of Social Welfare, GoJ

3. Intergenerational Cycle of LBW and Malnutrition Child growth failure Low Weight & Height in Adolescence Small adult women (Short stature) Low birth weight baby Early Pregnancy LBW – cause and consequence of malnutrition Need to develop a set of appropriate interventions that address the interrelated issues

4. Life Cycle Approach with LBW as an organising principle Pregnancy Early childhood Adolescence  Improving antenatal care  Reducing maternal mortality  Reducing proportion of lbw babies  Reducing infant mortality  Reducing childhood malnutrition  Increasing awareness about health and nutrition issues  Improving pre-pregnancy nutritional status of girls

5. Reducing the Incidence of Low Birth Weight using a Community based Life Cycle Strategy  Aims to impact key maternal and child health indicators  Focus on community mobilisation processes (catalysts: VHCs and Sahiyyas) and enhancing linkages between the communities and the health systems  Action research – Seeking to understand and capture the processes of change (at the community and systemic level) Research Objective : To evaluate the impact of a community level Life Cycle based intervention along with the improvement of primary health care delivery system on maternal and child health outcomes.