Engaging the Community to Improve the Quality of PMTCT Services in Malawi

Overview

The Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE) adapted and evaluated use of the Community Score Card^© (CSC) approach to improve the quality of PMTCT services in 2017. CARE Malawi developed the CSC approach to positively influence the quality, efficiency, and accountability of health services, by increasing communication between health care workers (HCWs) and their clients.

The CSC approach was implemented and evaluated in 11 health facilities in the Ntcheu and Dedza districts from July 2017 – December 2018. As an ongoing process of quality improvement, the CSC consists of multiple rounds that build trust and accountability between HCWs and clients.