Shared Decision-making in Maternal and Newborn Health in Burkina Faso

Community participation in decision-making within the health sector is an essential component in advancing efforts toward primary health care (PHC). Since 2006, Enfants du Monde, a Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO), in collaboration with the local NGO Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso (FDC/BF), has been supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to include communities in decision-making related to maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. Notably, participatory community assessments (PCA) are conducted to provide a platform for community members to discuss MNH needs and be involved in the decision-making within the health sector. During the PCAs, participants identify and prioritize needs and propose solutions to improve MNH, solutions which are then integrated in the annual district health action plan. Integrated interventions include: promotion of birth preparedness and complication readiness; training health care providers in counselling skills; building awareness of men on MNH issues and their capacity to support women; and strengthening community bodies to manage obstetrical and neonatal complications. The inclusion of these interventions has contributed to the advancement of PHC in three regions in Burkina Faso.

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Advancing People-Centered Maternal and Newborn Health Care through Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in Rural Bangladesh

The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine ◽

10.5750/ijpcm.v7i2.639 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 107-117

Author(s):

Tapas Mazumder ◽

Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman ◽

Emdadul Hoque ◽

Md. Al Mahmud ◽

Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Local Level ◽

Newborn Health ◽

Local Context ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Birth Preparedness ◽

Care Providers ◽

Complication Readiness ◽

Maternal And Newborn

Background: In Bangladesh, women and newborns continue to face elevated risks around the time of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Applying a people-centered approach to maternal and newborn (MNH) services is a priority in such contexts to increase appropriate use of services and improve the health of women and newborns. In 2009, Enfants du Monde and PARI Development Trust began supporting the Ministry of Health at local level to implement birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) for improving MNH in Netrokona district, Bangladesh. Objective: To assess the contribution of the BPCR intervention in advancing people-centered MNH care in Netrokona district, Bangladesh. Methods:We conducted 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs), one focus group discussion (FGD) and four group discussions with different stakeholders. In addition, a household survey was conducted with 725 women (intervention n=444, control n=281) and 317 of their husbands (intervention n=178, control n=139) at baseline and with 737 women (intervention n=442, control n=295) and 732 husbands at endline.Results: The BPCR intervention was co-designed through a consultative process with national and local stakeholders, ensuring the reflection of local context. Training health care providers to improve their counseling skills allowed them to apply effective BPCR counseling during ANC visits and be responsive to women’s situations and individual needs. In addition, discussion on BPCR in households and courtyard meetings provoked families’ and communities’ engagement in MNH. Consequently. there was significant increase across most indicators related to BPCR practice among women and husbands’ involvement between baseline and endline.Discussion: The BPCR intervention was successful in advancing people-centered MNH care by empowering women and increasing the engagement of men, families and communities in MNH care. Our study findings are coherent with the findings of studies conducted in similar settings. Conclusions: Carefully co-designed BPCR interventions should be further expanded within Bangladesh and beyond in order to advance people-centered care and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Training health workers to provide person-centred maternal and newborn health care in Burkina Faso

The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine ◽

10.5750/ijpcm.v3i2.405 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 154-159

Author(s):

Janet Perkins ◽

Aminata Bargo ◽

Cecilia Capello ◽

Carlo Santarelli

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Burkina Faso ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Workers ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Newborn Health ◽

World Health ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Care Providers ◽

Maternal And Newborn

Assuring the provision of person-centred care is critical in maternal and newborn health (MNH). As a component of the national strategy to improve MNH, Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, supported by Enfants du Monde, La Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso and UNFPA, is implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework for Working with Individuals, Families and Communities (IFC) to improve MNH. As a first step in district implementation, participatory community assessments were conducted. These assessments consistently revealed that poor interactions with healthcare providers posed one important barrier preventing women from seeking MNH services. In order to address this barrier, healthcare providers were trained to improve their interpersonal skills and in counselling women. During 2011-12 a total of 175 personnel were trained over a 5-day course developed using a WHO manual. The course was met with enthusiasm as providers expressed their need and desire for such training. Immediate post-test results revealed an impressive increase in knowledge and anecdotal evidence suggests that training has influenced provider’s behaviours in their interactions with women. In addition, health care providers are taking concrete action to build the capabilities of women to experience pregnancy and birth safely by engaging directly with communities. While early findings are promising, an evaluation will be necessary to measure how the training has influenced practices, whether this translates into a shift of perceptions at community level and ultimately its contribution toward promoting person-centred care in Burkina Faso.

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Management of covid-19: a practical guideline for maternal and newborn health care providers in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine ◽

10.1080/14767058.2020.1763948 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

B. N. Ezenwa ◽

I. B. Fajolu ◽

O. R. Akinajo ◽

C. C. Makwe ◽

A. A. Oluwole ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Newborn Health ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Care Providers ◽

Practical Guideline ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Maternal And Newborn

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Assessment of quality of care in maternal and newborn health services available in public health care facilities in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin ◽

10.3329/bmrcb.v35i2.3044 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 53-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sameena Chowdhury ◽

Syed Akram Hossain ◽

Abdul Halim

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Newborn Health ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Care Providers ◽

Maternal And Newborn

The study was conducted using the exit interview with patients (n=120), in depth interview with health care providers (n=87) and focus group discussion (n=16) with stakeholders to assess the perceived level of quality of care in maternal and newborn health at public facilities in Bangladesh. Both clients and providers expressed dissatisfaction for inadequate quality of care represented by poor cleanliness, long waiting time with less consultation time, poor compassion by providers, inadequate supply of drugs and unnoticed cost for services varied by level of facilities. Inadequacy in human resource and absenteeism and poor laboratory service were reported to worsen the condition especially at lower level of service delivery. Thus this study explored some important factors like poor quality of care, inadequate technical competencies, information exchange and follow-up services. A deficit in supplies and logistics are strong barrier in regards to quality of care at various levels which needs to be addressed immediately.Keywords: Bangladesh; Maternal health; Newborn health; Quality of careOnline: 13 August 2009DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v35i2.3044Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2009; 35: 53-56

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Women’s experiences of maternal and newborn health care services and support systems in Buikwe District, Uganda: A qualitative study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0261414 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0261414

Author(s):

Marte Bodil Roed ◽

Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv Engebretsen ◽

Robert Mangeni ◽

Irene Namata

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Decision Making ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Health Workers ◽

Newborn Health ◽

Postnatal Period ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Care Services ◽

Professional Health ◽

Maternal And Newborn

Background Uganda continues to have a high neonatal mortality rate, with 20 deaths per 1000 live births reported in 2018. A measure to reverse this trend is to fully implement the Uganda Clinical Guidelines on care for mothers and newborns during pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period. This study aimed to describe women’s experiences of maternal and newborn health care services and support systems, focusing on antenatal care, delivery and the postnatal period. Methods We used triangulation of qualitative methods including participant observations, semi-structured interviews with key informants and focus group discussions with mothers. Audio-recorded data were transcribed word by word in the local language and translated into English. All collected data material were stored using two-level password protection or stored in a locked cabinet. Malterud’s Systematic text condensation was used for analysis, and NVivo software was used to structure the data. Findings Antenatal care was valued by mothers although not always accessible due to transport cost and distance. Mothers relied on professional health workers and traditional birth attendants for basic maternal services but expressed general discontentment with spousal support in maternal issues. Financial dependency, gender disparities, and lack of autonomy in decision making on maternal issues, prohibited women from receiving optimal help and support. Postnatal follow-ups were found unsatisfactory, with no scheduled follow-ups from professional health workers during the first six weeks. Conclusions Further focus on gender equity, involving women’s right to own decision making in maternity issues, higher recognition of male involvement in maternity care and improved postnatal follow-ups are suggestions to policy makers for improved maternal care and newborn health in Buikwe District, Uganda.

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The Role of Men in Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Burkina Faso

The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine ◽

10.5750/ijpcm.v6i3.595 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 180-184

Author(s):

Janet Perkins ◽

Cecilia Capello ◽

Aminata Bargo Maiga ◽

Yanogo Matié ◽

Amélie Eggertswyler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Burkina Faso ◽

Health Workers ◽

Newborn Health ◽

World Health Organisation ◽

World Health ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Birth Preparedness ◽

Complication Readiness ◽

Role Of Men

Background. As critical household and community gatekeepers in Burkina Faso, men play an important role in ensuring the care of women and newborns during the perinatal period. Enfants du Monde, Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are supporting the national Ministry of Health to implement the health promotion pillar of the maternal and new born health (MNH) strategy.Objectives. Working with men to help them become active participants in MNH is one of the axes of these efforts. Methods. Interventions aiming at influencing the role of men in MNH have been implemented since 2010. Foremost among these is the implementation of a strategy entitled Pougsid Songo, or “Model Husbands”. Within this strategy, designed by health workers and community members, men who are exhibiting positive behaviours in supporting women are selected by local leaders and trained to educate other men in the community on care for women and newborns, on birth preparedness and complication readiness, on danger signs and postnatal family planning (FP) and on the need to accompany women to health services. Results. Preliminary results suggest that in particular due to the “Model Husbands” strategy, men are participating more actively in MNH. Notably, men are starting to accompany women to health facilities for antenatal care regularly and they are more aware of care practices for women during and after pregnancy and for newborns. In addition, utilization of MNH and FP services is increasing. Conclusions. These results suggest that interventions are successfully influencing men’s roles in MNH which is contributing to improved care of women and newborns within the household and increased utilization of MNH services.

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