Pascal is a professional health and project management specialist with over six years of practical experience in program management, monitoring and evaluation for child survival, maternal and adolescent health, malaria and community health financing. Currently supporting the Butaleja MNCH project as an M&E officer, Pascal’s research interest is in the development of strategies aimed at translating research works into meaningful and relevant policies to improve health outcomes in the global south. He has worked with international organizations including Health Partners and Amref Health Africa on a number of community health systems strengthening programs in the local settings.

Statement of the Problem: High matternal mortality rate is one of major public health concerns in developing countries and most deaths are caused by factors attributed to pregnancy and childbirth. It is important to ensure coverage of early antenatal care services starting from the first trimester as one component to achieve these targets. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all pregnant women should attend antenatal care (ANC) at least four times before birth with the first being within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Early antenatal care visit gives the opportunity to provide screening and tests that are most effective early in the pregnancy like correct assessment of gestational age to allow for accurate treatment of preterm labour, screening for genetic and congenital disorders. Despite free ANC services in public health facilities in Uganda, only a handful of pregnant women attend first ANC visit in their first trimester. Development partners like World Vision International have developed and implemented initiatives and models like timed and targeted counselling targeting pregnant women in order to improve maternal health outcomes. This is built around evidence-based, cost effective key interventions for pregnant women and children under two that, when taken together, can significantly reduce maternal and infant/young child morbidity and mortality. This paper presents how the ttC model has positively VHTs have improved maternal and newborn health care in Butaleja district. Methodology Through the KOICA funded Butaleja Maternal, Neonatal and Child health (BMNCH) project, World Vision focused on the community based models to address the delays in seeking appropriate care and inability to access care in a timely manner. This involved roll out ttC model by the community health workers to map, health educate, follow up and refer pregnant women for early MNCH services including attendance of timely 1st ANC. Findings A pre and post intervention analysis of Health Management Information System (HMIS) dataset before and after the intervention was conducted. Trend analysis of pregnant women attending first ANC in first trimester was done and below ate the results. Figure2: Graph showing changes timely attendance of 1st ANC Conclusion Village health team members have created awareness and demand and hence increased uptake of MNCH services.

Raminder kaur has completed her post-graduation in MS.c (Hons.) Anthropology from Punjab University Chandigarh (India) in year 2016. She is junior research scholar (UGC) in the Department of Anthropology, Punjab University, Chandigarh (India). One research paper is accepted and will be published in January 2018 in Anthropologist, International journal of human diversity and evolution as it is under preparation. Her current PhD research work is going on poly cystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the common endocrine dysfunction in women of reproductive age and is responsible for heterogeneous and manifold disorders. It is associated with enhanced risk of morbidity in terms of both reproductive and non-reproductive events such as increased possibility of cardio-metabolic, obstetric, oncology and psychological complication throughout the life span. The major determinants for these diseases are obesity, raised glucose level, raised cholesterol, physical inactivity, decreased vegetables and fruit intake and high blood pressure etc. PCOS patients not only shows classic cardiovascular risks such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, but also non-classic cardiovascular risks factors like mood disorder, depression and anxiety. Overall obesity is common among PCOS women and it further worsens the health status of women. Women suffering from PCOS exhibit higher prevalence of abdominal body fat as compared to their obese non PCOS counterparts. Currently it is unclear whether long term risks are due to PCOS or obesity. Previous literature illustrated that androgen excess may be primary cause of fat deposition particularly visceral fat and leads to insulin insensitivity which is significantly reduced in obese and overweight PCOS women and further promote androgen excess. PCOS being a hidden epidemic across globe and needs awareness in diagnosis and management of the disorder with lifestyle modification like physical activity and diet.