Family Centered Care (FCC) Under the Saving Women and Premature Babies (SWAP) Project in Bangladesh (2022 – 2025)

Bangladesh has made progress in reducing under-5 child mortality, but neonatal mortality remains a persistent challenge. The national neonatal mortality rate is 20 per 1,000 live births —well above the SDG target of 12. More than 60% of under-5 child deaths occur in the neonatal period. Family-Centered Care (FCC) is a model of paediatric care, which acknowledges that a child’s illness affects the entire family and centers around involving family members in the care process. In the context of Bangladesh, the FCC model includes a structured approach to empowering and encouraging the parent / caregiver to actively participate in the care of the small and or sick newborn during admission at the health facility and at home after discharge. Save the Children International through the SWAP program has introduced FCC approach as a pilot in five healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. This brief presents findings from the introduction of the FCC approach in these five health facilities.