Strengthening implementation of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook for global maternal, newborn, and child health

Abstract

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook is an integrated home-based record format for maternal, newborn, and child health. “The WHO recommendations on home-based records for maternal, newborn, and child health (2018)” help country officers and experts to identify the value of home-based records including the MCH Handbook. It also indicates the importance of using home-based records effectively, as the benefits derived from them depend on the quality of their implementation.

In 2023, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency published the implementation guide, “Strengthening implementation of home-based records for maternal, newborn, and child health”. The guide is designed around the key concepts of 1) the management cycle of a home-based record program and 2) a user-centered approach. Eight success factors for achieving optimal performance of home-based records are presented.

Researchers are expected to contribute to the effective implementation of the MCH Handbook by generating evidence for and conducting implementation research on the MCH Handbook. To ensure the effective implementation of the MCH Handbook in national health systems, professional associations should take a leadership role to involve health professionals.