Findings from Cross-Sectional Survey of First-Time Mothers in Noakhali and Madaripur Districts, Bangladesh

The Connect project, known as Shongzog in Bangla, implements community-based interventions to increase PPFP use and improve uptake and timing of postnatal care (PNC) among FTMs, and have potential for sustainability through institutionalization in existing government and community health systems. A baseline study was conducted as part of an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of Shongzog’s approaches. Data was collected through quantitative surveys with 2,308 FTMs ages 14-25 in Noakhali and Madaripur districts. The surveys included questions on adoption and continuation of PPFP, uptake and timing of facility-based PNC for mother and baby, as well as other key indicators to deepen understanding of the factors that influence PPFP adoption and PNC use for FTMs.