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Project Name

Infant Feeding Project - LHWs Survey

Name of Client:

CERP

Start Date

July 2025

Location

Gujranwala, Shaikhupura, and Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan

Completion Date

Aug 2025

Project Team
Muhammad Zubair Rafique

Assignment Manager

Dr. Aamir Hayat

Field Coordinator

Dr. Kate Vyborny

Principal Investigator

Project Description

This initiative focuses on a high-impact, technology-driven approach to improving neonatal health outcomes in rural Pakistan by enhancing the support provided by Lady Health Workers (LHWs). Given that breastfeeding remains one of the most cost-effective and essential interventions for infant survival—directly combating life-threatening conditions such as diarrhea and pneumonia—the project seeks to bridge the gap between WHO-recommended nutritional guidelines and field-level implementation.

The core of this project is the design, development, and rigorous evaluation of a specialized mobile health (mHealth) application tailored for the unique challenges of rural healthcare delivery. By equipping LHWs with this digital tool, the project aims to standardize the counseling they provide, ensuring they can effectively advocate for three critical milestones: the early initiation of breastfeeding, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and the appropriate continuation of breastfeeding alongside nutritious complementary foods.

The project employs a robust Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) framework to measure the efficacy of the mHealth tool compared to traditional support methods. By analyzing the data collected during the trial, the project intends to provide concrete evidence on how digital intervention, combined with targeted training, can influence maternal behavior and improve health literacy at the household level. Ultimately, this research is aimed at significantly reducing Pakistan’s neonatal mortality rate, transforming LHWs into more data-informed, tech-enabled frontline workers who can champion infant survival strategies across the most underserved communities.

Services Provided

For this critical infant health initiative, Versatile Consultants served as the primary operational partner, ensuring the technical and logistical success of the Randomised Controlled Trial. Our involvement spanned the full research lifecycle, beginning with the strategic recruitment and management of a highly qualified team of enumerators. We ensured our personnel were not only skilled in data collection but were also capable of effectively interacting with healthcare professionals in the field, including Lady Health Workers (LHWs), Lady Health Supervisors (LHSs), and dispensary staff at Basic Health Units (BHUs) across Punjab.

Our expertise was deeply integrated into the planning phase, where we provided critical consultancy inputs to finalize the mobile-based survey tools and design comprehensive training materials. We then conducted immersive, centralized training sessions for our field staff. These sessions were essential for equipping the team to handle the technical nuances of the mHealth application and to navigate the complexities of conducting surveys within busy public health facilities.

To maintain stringent oversight, we developed a sophisticated monitoring architecture, which included meticulously designed tracking sheets and real-time dashboards. This infrastructure allowed for granular, day-to-day oversight of the data collection process. By preparing and submitting consistent daily, weekly, and monthly progress reports, we kept stakeholders fully informed of fieldwork status. Throughout the duration of the project, our primary focus was on continuous quality assurance; we performed real-time data monitoring to validate survey responses instantly, ensuring that the trial data remained pure, accurate, and ready for clinical analysis.

OUR PORTFOLIO

Projects That Turn Data into Impact

Our portfolio highlights collaborations with leading organizations and institutions. Discover how our expertise in research, monitoring, and data analysis supports better decisions and stronger programs.

Project Name AreaClient/Partner Organization(s)Timeline-
The impact of sermons on beliefs and behavior in Punjab,PakistanPunjab, PakistanHarvard UniversityJuly 2024 - Feb 2026Veiw
Effect of Affordable, Accessible, and Safer Commutes to Girls in KP. (KP-RAP Project)Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanThe World Bank GroupMay 2024 - Dec 2025Veiw
Institutional reform and women’s De facto rights in Punjab, PakistanPunjab, PakistanThe World Bank, IGC, and NBERDec 2022 - Aug 2025Veiw
Infant Feeding Project LHWs SurveyPunjab, PakistanCERPJuly 2025 - Oct 2025Veiw
Handwashing Practices and the Role of Health Professionals vs Religious LeadersLahore, PunjabCenter for Int Development (CID) - Harvard University May 2024 - Dec 2025Veiw
Phone Survey on the reservation wedge: labor supply of college-educated women in Pakistan" (Phase I to IV)Lahore, PunjabLondon School of Economics (LSE) and MITAug 2022 - Sep 2023Veiw
FATA Reforms Public Opinion Barometer Household SurveyFATA, Khyber PakhtunkhwaUNDP/FATA Research CenterMay 2020 - Dec 2020Veiw
Ex-Post Evaluation of projects implemented by GIZ titled " Utilization of Skills Provided" (A. Community and B. Government Staffs) from 2009-2017FATA, Khyber PakhtunkhwaGIZ/FATA Research CenterNov 2018 - Dec 2018Veiw
Survey for Digital Accessibility & Literacy (DAL)Punjab and KPKBritish CouncilOct 2016 to Nov 2016Veiw
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