West Bank and Gaza: Stress the importance and cost-effectiveness of postpartum care

To assess maternal health care in the West Bank and Gaza, the Health, Development, Information, and Policy Institute conducted a study from May to August 2000. This study served as a baseline for the Pilot Health Project (PHP), which seeks to improve antenatal and postpartum services in three areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Seven local and international agencies are implementing PHP in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health and with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Data sources for the baseline study consisted of service statistics, interviews with health-care providers, and exit interviews with antenatal, postpartum, and family planning clients at the 27 study clinics. As this summary notes, Palestinian women have access to antenatal and postpartum care as well as family planning services, although few seek postpartum services; both clients and health-care providers have limited knowledge about reproductive health (RH); and RH services could be improved by the provision of standardized protocols for RH care in primary health-care clinics and pre- and in-service training for providers