1. Bajenu Gox: A Community Approach to Maternal and Child Health in Senegal

The project is implemented by the Université Cheikh Anta Diop in collaboration with l’Institut national de santé publique du Québec in Canada and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Senegal.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, an average of less than one in five women receive critical interventions during pregnancy. Countries with the lowest coverage of life saving interventions across the continuum of care are predominantly located in West and Central Africa, indicating the need for sustained investment in strengthening the health systems. In Senegal, despite a substantial reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality, women continue to die from complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

This project aims to improve the Bajenu Gox program long-term sustainability at community level and establish systems that will allow the program to scale up nationally. Under the Bajenu Gox Community Program, a flagship political initiative, female community leaders support women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period; and provide support and guidance to mothers for the good health of children under-five years of age. Researchers use a gender and social equity approach to examine how to enhance the program’s contribution to maternal and child health outcomes.