Effect of four or more antenatal care visits on facility delivery and early postnatal care services utilization in Uganda: a propensity score matched analysis

Introduction Maternal mortality remains a global public health issue, more predominantly in developing countries, and is associated with poor maternal health services utilization. Antenatal care (ANC) visits are positively associated with facility delivery and postnatal care (PNC) utilization. However, ANC in itself may not lead to such association but due to differences that exist among users (women). The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine the effect of four or more ANC visits on facility delivery and early PNC and also the effect of facility-based delivery on early PNC using Propensity Score Matched Analysis (PSMA). Methods The present study utilized the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) dataset. Women aged 15 – 49 years who had given birth three years preceding the survey were considered for this study. Propensity score-matched analysis was used to analyze the effect of four or more ANC visits on facility delivery and early PNC and also the effect of facility-based delivery on early PNC. Results The results revealed a significant and positive effect of four or more ANC visits on facility delivery [ATT (Average Treatment Effect of the Treated) = 0.118, 95% CI: 0.063 – 0.173] and early PNC [ATT = 0.099, 95% CI: 0.076 – 0.121]. It also found a positive and significant effect of facility-based delivery on early PNC [ATT = 0.518, 95% CI: 0.489 – 0.547]. Conclusion Policies geared towards the provision of four or more ANC visits are an effective intervention towards improved facility-based delivery and early PNC utilisation in Uganda.

Disruptions in maternal health service use during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: experiences from 37 health facilities in low-income and middle-income countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has heterogeneously affected use of basic health services worldwide, with disruptions in some countries beginning in the early stages of the emergency in March 2020. These disruptions have occurred on both the supply and demand sides of healthcare, and have often been related to resource shortages to provide care and lower patient turnout associated with mobility restrictions and fear of contracting COVID-19 at facilities. In this paper, we assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of maternal health services using a time series modelling approach developed to monitor health service use during the pandemic using routinely collected health information systems data. We focus on data from 37 non-governmental organisation-supported health facilities in Haiti, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico and Sierra Leone. Overall, our analyses indicate significant declines in first antenatal care visits in Haiti (18% drop) and Sierra Leone (32% drop) and facility-based deliveries in all countries except Malawi from March to December 2020. Different strategies were adopted to maintain continuity of maternal health services, including communication campaigns, continuity of community health worker services, human resource capacity building to ensure compliance with international and national guidelines for front-line health workers, adapting spaces for safe distancing and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment. We employ a local lens, providing prepandemic context and reporting results and strategies by country, to highlight the importance of developing context-specific interventions to design effective mitigation strategies.

E-Postpartum mobile application to increase postnatal knowledge care

Background: During this pandemic, maternal health services must still be considered because it is feared that there will be an increase in postpartum maternal morbidity and mortality. Postpartum care knowledge is vital for postpartum mothers to maintain their condition, so it is necessary to make an application that helps mothers through the E-Postpartum application.Objective: The study aims to develop and test the E-Postpartum mobile application to increase knowledge of postnatal care.Method: This study employed Research & Development consisting of 4 stages, namely Literature Study, Development Stage, Validity Expert, and Trial.Results: The E-Postpartum mobile application has six features, starting from education about postpartum care to consultation. The trial results showed that the application effectively increased the knowledge and action of postpartum mothers (p <0.001).Conclusion: The E-Postpartum application is beneficial for health workers in providing education, especially for postpartum mothers in carrying out care during the postpartum period. This postpartum application will make it easier for mothers to check their condition and make it easier for midwives to detect early and control the mother's condition even remotely.

Artificial Intelligence guided citizen-centric approach to enhance uptake of maternal health services among pregnant women living in urban slum settings in India. (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Pregnant women are considered to be a “high risk” group with limited access to health facilities in urban slums. Barriers to utilization of health services may lead to maternal and child mortality, morbidity, low birth weight, and children with stunted growth. Application of artificial intelligence (AI) can provide substantial improvements in all areas of healthcare from diagnostics to treatment. There have been several technological advances within the field of AI, however, AI not merely driven by what is technically feasible, but by what is humanly desirable is the need of the hour. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study is to develop and evaluate the AI guided citizen centric platform to enhance the uptake of maternal health services (antenatal care) amongst the pregnant women living in urban slum settings. METHODS A cross-sectional mixed method approach employed to collect data among pregnant women, aged 18-44 years, living in urban slums of South Delhi. A convenience sampling used to recruit 225 participants at the Anganwadi centres (AWC) after obtaining consent from the eligible participants. Inclusion criteria includes pregnant individuals residing in urban slums for more than 3 months, having smartphones, visiting AWC for seeking antenatal care. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected electronically using Open Data Kit (ODK) based opensource tool from eligible participants. Data will be collected on clinical as well as socio-demographic parameters (based on existing literature). We aim to develop an innovative AI guided citizen centric decision support platform to effectively manage pregnancy and its outcomes among urban poor populations. The proposed research will help policymakers to prioritize resource planning, resource allocation and development of programs and policies to enhance maternal health outcomes. RESULTS The AI guided citizen centric decision support platform will be designed, developed, implemented and evaluated using principles of human centred design and findings of the study will be reported to diverse stakeholders. The tested and revised platform will be deployed for use across various stakeholders such as pregnant women, healthcare professionals, frontline workers, and policymakers. CONCLUSIONS With the understanding, use and adoption of emerging and innovative technologies such as AI, maternal health informatics can be at the forefront to help pregnant women in crisis. The proposed platform will potentially be scaled up to different geographic locations for adoption for similar and other health conditions.

Health Workers’ Perceptions about Maternal and Adolescent Health among Marginalized Populations in India: A Multi-Centric Qualitative Study

Frontline workers are instrumental in bridging the gap in the utilization of maternal health services. We performed a qualitative cross-sectional study with medical officers, accredited social health activists (ASHA), and auxiliary nurse midwifes (ANM), across 13 districts of India, in order to understand the barriers and enablers, at the system and population levels, for improving access of adolescents and mothers to services. The data were collected by means of in-depth interviews (IDI) with medical officers and focus group discussions (FGD) with ASHA and ANM in 2016. The interview guide was based on the conceptual framework of WHO health interventions to decrease maternal morbidity. Content analysis was performed. In total, 532 frontline workers participated in 52 FGD and 52 medical officers in IDI. Adolescent clinics seemed nonexistent in most places; however, services were provided, such as counselling, iron tablets, or sanitary pads. Frontline workers perceived limited awareness and access to facilities among women for antenatal care. There were challenges in receiving the cash under maternity benefit schemes. Mothers-in-law and husbands were major influencers in women’s access to health services. Adolescent clinics and antenatal or postnatal care visits should be seen as windows of opportunities for approaching adolescents and women with good quality services.

Effects of continuum of care in maternal health services on adverse birth outcome in Northwest Ethiopia: a prospective follow up study

Background Globally, around 4 million of babies were died within the first month and more than 3 million were stillbirth. Of them, 99% of newborn deaths and 98% of stillbirth occur in developing countries. Despite give a priority for maternal health services, adverse birth outcomes are still major public health problems and big challenge in Ethiopia particularly in study area. Hence, to overcome those challenges, a continuum of care (COC) is core key strategies. Despite that study conduct on effectiveness of COC in maternal health services was scare in developing countries and not done in study area. We aimed to assess effectiveness of continuity of care on reduction of adverse events and determinants of adverse birth outcomes. Methods Community and health facility linked prospective follow-up study design was employed from March 2020 to January 2021 in Northwest Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 2,198 pregnant women. Data were collected by using semi-structured and pretested interviewer questionnaire. Collected data were coded, entered, cleaned and analyzed by using STATA 14. Mixed-effect model was used to identify community and individual level factors of adverse birth outcomes. Finally, propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to determine effectiveness of COC in maternal health services. Results Magnitude of adverse birth outcome was 26.8%: stillbirth (2.7%), neonatal mortality rate (3.1%) and neonatal morbidity (6.8%). Risk factors significantly associated were being poor household wealth index (AOR = 3.3), pregnant related complication during pregnancy (AOR = 3.29), labour and childbirth (AOR = 6.08), immediately after childbirth (AOR = 5.24), offensive odder amniotic fluid (AOR = 3.04) and history of stillbirth (AOR = 4.2). Whereas, women receive IFA during pregnancy (AOR = 0.44), initiate BF within 1hour (AOR = 0.22) and immunizing newborn within postnatal period (AOR = 0.33) were protective factors. As treatment effect, completion of COC in MHS via time dimension (β = -0.03), completion of key services of MHS (β = -0.04) and completion of COC in MHS via space dimension (β = -0.02) were associated with a significant reduction in the likelihood of perinatal death Conclusions The results suggested that neonatal and perinatal mortality rate were high as compared with national and international target. Completion of COC in MHS is an effective strategy in reduction perinatal death. Efforts should be made to strengthening COC of MHS and also encourage IFA supplementation, immunizing and early initiation of BF for newborn were strongly recommended.

Mode of Delivery of Women with Complicated Pregnancy in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh

Introduction: Every year, a great number of women die from pregnancy or childbirth related complications, which can be prevented. In developing countries, they don’t have access to maternal health services and cannot afford high quality care. Maternal death is usually occurs due to three delays: in decision making to seek care, reaching care and receiving care. Right decision at the right time regarding mode of delivery has a direct impact on healthy outcome of pregnancy as well as the maternal wellbeing. Objectives: To find out the outcome of complicated pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at obstetrics and gynaecology department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January to June 2011. Total 107 mothers who delivered recently with or without pregnancy complications were selected purposively. Data were collected by face to face interview with semi structured questionnaires. Verbal consents were taken prior to interview. Results: Among the respondents about 68.2% had antenatal complications and about 31.8% had no antenatal complication. Among the women having antenatal complications, 83.6% delivered by caesarean section and only 16.4% delivered by normal vaginal delivery. There was significant association of antenatal complications with mode of delivery by caesarean section. Conclusion: Women having antenatal complications had significant association with caesarean section. Though every pregnancy is at risk but early detection of complications, timely referral and timely intervention can save lives of many women during the process of child birth. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 16, No 2 (December) 2020: 31-34

Continuum of maternity care among rural women in Ethiopia: does place and frequency of antenatal care visit matter?

Introduction The ministry of health (MOH) of Ethiopia recommends 4 or more focused antenatal care (ANC) visits at health centre (HC) or at a higher level of health facility (HF). In Ethiopia, few studies investigated time dimension of maternal health continuum of care but lack data regarding place dimension and its effect on continuum of care. The aim of this study is to estimate effect of place of ANC-1 visit and adherence to MOH’s recommendations of MOH for ANC visits on continuum of care rural in Ethiopia. Methods We used data collected from 1431 eligible women included in the National Health Extension Program (HEP) assessment survey that covered 6324 households from 62 woredas in nine regions. The main outcome variable is continuum of care (CoC), which is the uptake of all recommended ANC visits, institutional delivery and postnatal care services. Following descriptive analysis, Propensity Score Matching was used to estimate the effect of place of ANC-1 visit on completion of CoC. Zero inflated Poisson regression was used to model the effect of adherence to MOH recommendation of ANC visits on intensity of maternal health continuum of care. Result Only 13.9% of eligible women completed the continuum of care, and place of first antenatal care (ANC) visit was not significantly associated with the completion of continuum of care (β = 0.04, 95% CI = -0.02, 0.09). Adherence of ANC visit to the MOH recommendation (at least 4 ANC visits at higher HFs than health posts (HPs)) increased the likelihood of higher intensity of continuum of care (aIRR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.33). Moreover, the intensity of continuum of care was positively associated with being in agrarian areas (aIRR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.29), exposed to HEP (IRR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.28), being informed about danger signs (aIRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.18) and delivery of second youngest child at HF (IRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.20). Increasing age of women was negatively associated with use of services (IRR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.94). Conclusion Completion of maternal health continuum of care is very low in Ethiopia, however most of the women use at least one of the services. Completion of continuum of care was not affected by place of first ANC visit. Adherence to MOH recommendation of ANC visit increased the intensity of continuum of care. Intensity of continuum of care was positively associated with residing in agrarian areas, HEP exposure, danger sign told, delivery of second youngest child at health facility. To boost the uptake of all maternal health services, it is crucial to work on quality of health facilities, upgrading the infrastructures of HPs and promoting adherence to MOH recommendations of ANC visit.