Finding the gap: revealing local disparities in coverage of maternal, newborn and child health services in South Sudan using lot quality assurance sampling

• DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12613
• Publication Date: 2015-10-03T13:34:44Z
• Authors: Joseph J. Valadez; Sima Berendes; Richard Lako; Simon Gould; William Vargas; Susan Milner
• Keywords: Millennium Development Goals

We adapted a rapid monitoring method to South Sudan, new nation with one of the world's highest maternal and child mortality rates, aiming assess coverage maternal, neonatal health (MNCH) services at time independence, introducing evaluation system (M&E) for equity-sensitive tracking progress related Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 5 national, state county levels detect local variability.We conducted national cross-sectional household survey among women from six client populations in all, but Sudan's 79 counties. used lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) measure diverse MNCH indicators obtain information national-, state- county-level management decision-making.National was low all care, immunisation, care indicators. However, results varied across states Central Equatoria State (CES), where capital is located, showed most (e.g. ≥4 antenatal visits range: 4.5% Jonglei 40.1% CES). Urban counties often outperformed rural ones.This adaptation LQAS Sudan demonstrates how it can be future as an M&E track MDGs disparities. Overall, our data reveal desperate need improving service states.