Game Reduces Pregnancy Risks

“The W3 game provides a community-level methodology to recognize the signs and dangers of high risk pregnancy and to manage the associated risks,” said community health worker Sana Barry. Photo by Counterpart International.

Well-trained community health personnel help promote safe pre- and post-natal care

Sana Barry, a community health worker and traditional birth attendant for 18 years, works at the health hut in Diery Diouga in the Region of Saint Louis, Department of Podor. Through a USAID-supported program focused on mother and child health, she receives training on responding to childhood illnesses and caretaking practices.

Most recently, Barry was able to work with a unique training tool known as the W3 game. The game is used to improve understanding and facilitate the recognition of danger signs associated with high risk pregnancy. It helps others better understand how regular pre- and post-natal consultations and assisted deliveries can reduce this risk.

“This game permitted us to better understand pregnancy danger signs, both before and after delivery and to seek attention in a timely manner for pregnant women, new mothers and newborns,” Barry said. “The W3 board game provided us with a community-level methodology to recognize the signs and to improve the management of high risk pregnancy.”

Barry noticed a remarkable change in the way mothers handle their pregnancies after USAID became involved in maternal and child health in Senegal.

“Before USAID started to work here, most women would try to hide their pregnancies and start prenatal visits late in their pregnancy,” Barry said. “However, with the maternal and child health and nutrition activities such as sensitization campaigns, home visits and the distribution of food, pregnancy is no longer something to hide. Pregnant women have begun to participate in recommended pre- and post-natal visits at the health post.”

The W3 game is one component in USAID’s multi-pronged approach to supporting community health workers and traditional birth attendants through information and education campaigns and training. Since 2006, the program has provided training to 86 community health workers. Additionally, 60 W3 game kits were provided and distributed to all the participating maternal child health and nutrition sites in Senegal.