Dinajpur SafeMother Initiative Final Evaluation Report

Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and UNICEF, have implemented the three-year (1999-2001) operations research initiative, the Dinajpur SafeMother Initiative or DSI – “a community mobilization initiative for addressing the three delays for reducing maternal mortality” in Birampur Upazila of Dinajpur district. The purpose of this initiative is to examine the effectiveness of defined community mobilization interventions and approaches to improve the quality of basic emergency obstetric care (EmOC) provided at the Upazila Health Complex (UHC), as well as to increase access to women to quality care, particularly those with obstetric complications, who are subjected to violence. Basic EmOC consist of assisted vaginal delivery, manual removal of the placenta, oxytoxics, anticonvulsants, and antibiotics. Basic EmOC does not include Cesarean section and blood transfusion services which are available only in facilities providing comprehensive EmOC services.