Abt-led Projects in Mali Contribute to Reduction in Child and Maternal Mortality

Mali is experiencing steady improvements in the use of health services and health impact indicators in key, highly populated regions, according to the results of Mali’s Demographic and Health Survey V (DHSV) 2012-2013, released Aug. 6.
 
For example, child mortality in four of Mali’s most-populated regions – Bamako, Kayes, Segou and Sikasso – declined by half or nearly as much since the previous Demographic Health Survey in 2006.
 
Abt Global led the implementation of two flagship USAID health bilateral projects across Mali – the Assistance Technique National (ATN) project, from 2003 to 2008, and the ATN Plus project, from 2008 to 2013.

“These two programs helped the Malian Ministry of Health and civil society in Mali to improve access to high-impact health services for maternal and child health country wide, at scale,” said Lisa Nichols, who directed ATN Plus for Abt Global.
 
Maternal mortality also is declining. The DHSV found a maternal mortality rate of 368 per 100,000 live births, down from 582 in 2001 – although these numbers do not include the northern regions due to political instability in the area. Still, this rate remains high and indicates significant efforts are needed to improve maternal health in Mali.
 
ATN Plus supported the scale up of life-saving interventions for mothers, such as active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL). The project trained 755 qualified providers – including educators – and 938 midwives, or matrons, in the interventions.
 
Malaria is the principal cause of mortality in children under five in Mali. ATN Plus played a major role in assisting the Ministry of Health in the training of staff in most of Mali’s 61 health districts in the use of new anti-malarial drugs and diagnosis between 2008 and 2012.
 
Read more about ATN Plus.
 
Read more about Abt’s work in maternal and child health.