19 September 2011
Peru: Giovana Smith rests with her newborn daughter at the Alto Trujillo Trujillo Health Post. Picture: Ben Zinner/USAID
Previously many children in Peru, especially in rural areas, suffered from chronic malnutrition and child mortality rates were high. Children under the age of five were particularly vulnerable. A major risk to children and their mothers was the lack of access to quality health services which took into account the cultural traditions of rural women.
Over the last two decades, a sustained and focused effort from the Government of Peru has led to substantial progress in achieving one of the hardest to meet MDGs – reducing child mortality. As a result, child malnutrition has been significantly reduced and a ground-breaking expansion of medical care has taken place.
Integrating local customs and cultural practices into community health services has been a major factor in this success. For example, health professionals have embraced traditional vertical birthing – giving birth standing or sitting – which is familiar to local women. As a result, more women are using professional health services when they give birth. As communities become more engaged with local health providers, they are also demanding greater quality healthcare. Women feel empowered, and their improved access to quality services has delivered real results.
There has also been better management of diarrhoea and respiratory infections, improved coverage of vaccinations, and access to water and sanitation.
The innovative use of technology – especially mobile phones which have been used to transmit health information and monitor pregnant women – has helped to engage the private sector. And the introduction of the “budget by results” initiative has ensured that spending is efficient.
These measures have yielded significant results. Child mortality has dropped from 92 to 23 per thousand live births between 1991 and 2010 thanks to the measures taken by the Government of Peru and the support of public and private organisations. From 2000 to 2010, chronic malnutrition decreased from 25.4% to 17.9%.
[This case study was written for the joint USAID/DFID MDG Countdown event to showcase successful development programmes.]
Key facts
- The government response has adapted over time. During the 1980s -1990s, training and technical assistance was provided to improve the delivery of basic services to reduce mortality due to preventable diseases. Activities during the 2000s have focused more on the poorest areas of Peru and towards achieving major policy and institutional changes.
- From 2000 to 2010 Peru saw significant increases in the number of births assisted by a health professional, more pre-natal monitoring and a decrease in chronic malnutrition.
- Births in health facilities in targeted areas increased from 6% in 2000 to 83% in 2007. During the same period, Peru’s rural infant mortality rate decreased by 33%.
- More information: www.minsa.gob.pe