Effect of behavioral change intervention around new-born care practices among most marginalized women in self-help groups in rural India: analyses of three cross-sectional surveys between 2013 and 2016

Objectiveto assess the effects of new-born care intervention through self-help groups in improving new-born healthcare practices in rural india.methodsa quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate behavioral change intervention integrated in >25,000 microfinance-based self-help groups in rural bihar. three rounds of cross-sectional surveys were conducted to understand the impact of intervention on new-born healthcare practices by talking to women who delivered a baby in the last 6 months.resultsintervention groups showed greater improvement than control groups in the timely initiation of breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio (aor) = 6.3, 95% ci: 2.8, 14.3), exclusive breastfeeding on day 1 (aor = 4.3, 95% ci: 1.9, 9.9), initiation of skin-to-skin care (aor = 1.9, ci: 1.0, 3.8), and delayed bathing (aor = 2.8, 95% ci: 1.4, 5.9) with greater effect of on home deliveries where clinical care is often absent.conclusionsharing messages on appropriate new-born practices through self-help groups improve new-born care practices.