Assessment of the uptake of neonatal and young infant referrals by community health workers to public health facilities in an urban informal settlement KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

摘要

BackgroundGlobally, 40% of the 7.6 million deaths of children under five every year occur in the neonatal period (first 28 days after birth). Increased and earlier recognition of illness facilitated by community health workers (CHWs), coupled with effective referral systems can result in better child health outcomes. This model has not been tested in a peri-urban poor setting in Africa, or in a high HIV context.