WUNRN
IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH PRACTICES
IN 4 COUNTRIES: INSIGHTS & LESSONS LEARNED
Direct Link to Full 71-Page 2014
Report:
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Overview
This report and briefing draw on more than 64 focus group
discussions, 139 in-depth interviews and survey interviews with more than 9,687
people to explore the following research questions:
• What have we learned about current practices around key maternal
health behaviours in
• What have we learned about the potential drivers of and barriers
to these health behaviours?
Author: Laura
Smethurst – March 2014
Findings:
• There is considerable scope for programmes to help improve
practices around antenatal care and birth preparedness. In all four countries
the majority of women interviewed failed to attend the recommended four antenatal
check-ups and did not attend in the first trimester. The most commonly made
preparations are related to home deliveries, while other preparations for
birth, such as planning transport, were often inadequate across the four
countries.
• There are still knowledge gaps around antenatal care, in
particular in
• A good understanding of birth preparedness positively influences
practice, but knowledge gaps remain. Knowledge around the recommended
components of a birth plan is especially low in
Key implications for programming include the
need to:
• Address important knowledge gaps around the appropriate
timeframes for antenatal care and birth preparedness
• Tackle unsupportive attitudes, especially among the key
decision-makers, men and older women
• Consider potential barriers and people’s concerns around service provision
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