Our Impact
A peer-reviewed study of under-five mortality was published in 2018 in the journal PLOS One. Results show that prior to Lwala’s intervention 105 children under 5 died for every 1,000 live births. From 2012 to 2017 that rate dropped to 29.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.1
While not directly comparable, Lwala’s rates outperformed the most recently reported under-5 mortality rates for our region, Nyanza Province (82 per 1,000) and for Kenya as a whole (52 per 1,000). Lwala is within reach of the Sustainable Development Goal of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
To build on this study, we are partnering with Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health to conduct a five-year quasi-experimental program evaluation. We are collecting repetitive cross-sectional survey data across 4,000 households, tracking key indicators, including under 5 mortality.
¹ Starnes JR, et al. Under-five mortality in Rongo Sub-County of Migori County, Kenya: Experience of the Lwala Community Alliance 2007-17 with evidence from a cross-sectional survey. Public Library of Science. 2018-13(9)
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98% Skilled Delivery Rate
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97% Immunization Rate
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300% Increase in Contraceptive Use
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90% Decrease in Fertility
In partnership with Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health we are producing peer-reviewed research designed to inform local policy makers and build the global body of knowledge around community health. And, through our customized CommCare application, Community Health Workers collect data and receive decision support in real-time. With the addition of Salesforce analytics, our team and government colleagues are empowered to make patient-centered, evidence-based decisions.
The data above comes from two main sources. The first is an unpublished study by Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health, which compares DHIS2 reproductive health data from Lwala Community Hospital to 12 control sites.¹ The second is data collected at the community-level through CommCare and compares rates to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey.
¹ Audet, Blevins, Nardella, Giganti, Owuor, and Scibilia; Manuscript Under Review
Alice is a mother of five who was accustomed to delivering her children at home. During one of her deliveries a complication arose, and by the time she reached a health facility, she had lost her baby. Then, a traditional midwife in her village, named Rose, became a Lwala Community Health Worker. Rose identified Alice early in her next pregnancy and accompanied her to ensure she received prenatal visits, vitamin supplements, and skilled delivery. After a successful delivery of twins, Rose visited Alice to check for postpartum warning signs, offer breastfeeding advice, and share information on contraceptive options. Now, Rose will continue to check on Alice’s family until the twins reach the age of 5. Alice is grateful saying, “I felt confident knowing clinicians, nurses, and my Community Health Worker are there to support and care for me and my newborn twins.”
