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Table 1 Health and Social Topics for Chamas for Change First-Year Curriculuma

From: Promoting positive maternal, newborn, and child health behaviors through a group-based health education and microfinance program: a prospective matched cohort study in western Kenya

Lesson

Health Topic

Social Topic

1

Importance of antenatal and postnatal care

Goals of the Chamas for Change program

2

Physical exercise during pregnancy

Table banking (Saving and Loans)

3

Anemia during pregnancy

National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)

4

Danger signs during pregnancy and after delivery

Nutrition during pregnancy

5

Importance of facility delivery

Involving male partners during pregnancy and while raising children

6

Preventing maternal-child transmission of infections

Supporting the birth of a child in your Chama

7

Negative pregnancy outcomes (losing an infant)

Post-delivery welfare (up to 12 months of age)

8

Complications during pregnancy and delivery (i.e. obstructed labor)

Creating a budget

9

Postpartum depression

Setting routines for the infant: sleeping and eating

10

Newborn danger signs (4 h to 2 weeks)

Promoting a good relationship with your Mother-in-law and Sister-in-law

11

Exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months

Home hygiene

12

Infant growth monitoring and under-5 immunizations

Disclosing HIV status to your family

13

Kangaroo Care

Reducing stigma towards members in the community with HIV

14

Back to sleep/co-sleeping

Cooking in clean air

15

Family Planning: Coil/Uterine Copper Device

Farming and rearing livestock

16

Family Planning: Jadelle, Implanon, Nexplanon

Clean water

17

Family Planning: Male and Female Condoms

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

18

Infant growth and development

Adolescent pregnancies

19

Complementary feeding for infants

Importance of female education

20

Basic first aid: choking and burns

Promoting a good relationship with your husband in the home

21

Pediatric diseases under surveillance: Measles, Polio, Pneumonia, and Scabies

Mutual sexual satisfaction between a man and a woman

22

Diarrheal Diseases

Preparing to take your child to school (preparing for pre-school)

23

Cervical Cancer Screening: Overcoming fears and misconceptions

Group conflict resolution

24

Malaria

Children with developmental delays

  1. aThe Year 1 Chamas curriculum is comprised of 24 lessons (one health and one social topic) delivered over the span of 12 months. Lessons are facilitated by community health volunteers in a group-based setting using illustrated flip-charts and discussion guides