THE DEVELOPMENT OF
GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG INFANTS UNDER 2 MONTHS OF AGE: THE EXPERIENCE IN BANGLADESH
WHO
Neonatal health status in Bangladesh is grim. Though both GOB and NGOs
have been implementing maternal and child health programmes but emphasis was
inadequate on neonatal health. Bangladesh achieved significant reduction in
infant mortality rate, but neonatal mortality has not reduced proportionately.
Still 60% of all infant mortality occur during the first 4 weeks of life and
death within 7days of life is more.
Pneumonia , diarrhoea, malaria, measles and malnutrition predominate the list of death in children under 5 years of age. To manage these illnesses, WHO and UNICEF adopted an integrated management guideline rather than managing the problems separately. The main objective of this intervention programme is an integrated approach to deal with the important issues of childhood mortality, which will have a far reaching effect in the childhealth of the country. This approach will be simplistic and reduce the financial burden as well. In this programme a health worker is taught how to identify the problem quickly so that he/she can provide the quick delivery services. Considering the neonatal and child health scenario, Bangladesh has adopted it in it’s child health care policy. Young infants have special characteristics that must be considered when classifying their illness. They can become sick and die very quickly from serious bacterial infection. For these reasons they will be assessed, classified and treat differently than an older infant or young child. The young infant chart will lists the special signs to assess, classify and treat.