The Effect of Increased Coverage of Participatory Women’s Groups on Neonatal Mortality in Bangladesh

IMPORTANCE: Community-based interventions can reduce neonatal mortality when health systems are weak. Population coverage of target groups may be an important determinant of their effect on behavior and mortality. A women's group trial at coverage of 1 group per 1414 population in rural Bangladesh showed no effect on neonatal mortality, despite a similar intervention having a significant effect on neonatal and maternal death in comparable settings. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a participatory women's group intervention with higher population coverage on neonatal mortality in Bangladesh. DESIGN: A cluster randomized controlled trial in 9 intervention and 9 control clusters. SETTING: Rural Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS: Women permanently residing in 18 unions in 3 districts and accounting for 19 301 births during the…