Addressing quality of care and equity of services available at birthing centres to improve maternal and neonatal health in western Nepal

Background

A birthing centre (BC) is a component of maternal health service delivery at local level and provides a midwifery led model of care in a community or hospital setting to healthy women with uncomplicated or low risk pregnancies. In Nepal, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) provide much of the primary care maternity services delivering care especially at BCs. Literature suggests, BCs in Nepal are often bypassed in order to utilise services available at hospitals. There is a need for study which focuses on the role of BCs in providing good quality maternity and childbirth services. This study evaluated the effects of an intervention consisting of supporting BCs and community-based health promotion programme on increasing access and utilisation of perinatal care facilities in community setting.

Aim

The aim of this research is to study the effects of an intervention of supporting BCs and community-based health promotion programme on increasing access and utilisation of perinatal care facilities in community setting.

Methods

A longitudinal (cross-sectional) study was undertaken using a mixed methods approach. The quantitative methods consisted of two surveys that were conducted in rural area of a district in Nepal in the year 2012 and 2017 respectively. The qualitative method consisted of interviews and focus group discussion conducted in the year 2017.

Outputs

Mahato PK, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P, Angell C, Hundley V. A study of birthing centres and maternity users in southern Nepal. PLOS One. 2020

Mahato, P, Angell, C, van Teijlingen, E, Simkhada, PP. Using Mixed-methods Research in Health & Education in Nepal. Journal of Health Promotion Official Publication of Health Education Association of Nepal (HEAN). 2018; 6: 45-48.

Mahato PK, Regmi PR, Waithaka E, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P, Angell C. Health promotion opportunities for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives in Nepal. Health Prospect: Journal of Public Health. 2018;16(2): 13-17.

Mahato PK, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P, Angell C. Determinants of quality of care and access to Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care facilities and midwife-led facilities in low and middle-income countries: A Systematic Review. Journal of Asian Midwives 2017; 4(2): 25-61.

Mahato PK, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P, Sheppard ZA, Silwal RC. Factors related to choice of place of birth in a district in Nepal. Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare 2017; 13: 91-96.

Mahato PK, van Teijlingen, Simkhada P, Angell C. Birthing centres in Nepal: Recent developments, obstacles and opportunities. Journal of Asian Midwives 2016; 3(1): 18-30.

Mahato PK, Regmi PR, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P, Angell C, Sathian B. Birthing centre infrastructure in Nepal post 2015 earthquake. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 2015; 5(4); 518-519.