Emergency Care, Neonatal Care, Pregnancy
Conditions
Brief summary
This is an observational cohort study that will assess barriers influencing access to emergency pregnancy, obstetrical and neonatal care.
Detailed description
Through a 12-month mixed methods, observational cohort study, investigators from Maseno University, University of Minnesota (UMN) and OHR-EKC will assess barriers influencing access to emergency pregnancy, obstetrical and neonatal care among patients seeking care at 9 health centers on Mfangano Island, as well as the preliminary impact and feasibility/acceptability of the HN approach for improving access to MNH services and shortening delays in care.
Interventions
At 12-month follow-up, a purposeful, convenience sample of study participants and their significant others, Community Health Workers trained as Health Navigators, and local program staff, will be invited by research staff to participate in focus group discussions to collect qualitative data on pregnancy care, experience of navigating obstetrical emergencies, financial hardships, and Health Navigation program feasibility/acceptability. Particular attention will be paid to recruiting study subjects involved in complex obstetrical emergencies, cases that involved significant delays in transfer of care, cases resulting in significant morbidity/mortality, as well as cases that involved efficient/successful care coordination, referral, and transportation.
Sponsors
Maseno University
University of Minnesota
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Overall Inclusion Criteria: * Must be ≥18 years of age as of the date of study eligibility, or qualify as an emancipated minor (ie: person aged less than 18 years who was married, pregnant, or a parent, consistent with Government of Kenya guidelines and previous research such as Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey-KAIS) * Must be conversant with one of the commonly spoken languages within the study area (i.e. DhoLuo, Swahili or English; prior experience indicates that this represents \>99% of the adult population) * Must be willing to share confidential information about prenatal history, pregnancy course, obstetrical complications, clinical course, and experiences navigating health care system. * Must have the ability to provide informed consent. Emergency Cohort-Specific Criteria: \- Participants will be either patients who have experienced a critical pregnancy-related, obstetric, or neonatal health emergency, or appropriate family member in the case that patient is not able to participate in interview due to death or illness or other circumstance. Birth Planning Cohort-Specific Criteria: \- All pregnant women who register a birth plan through the Health Navigation Birth Planning service will be eligible to enroll in the Birth Planning Cohort Focus Group Cohort-Specific Criteria: \- All participants from the emergency cohort and the birth planning cohort will be eligible, as well as CHW volunteers, and OHR-EKC and MoH health facility staff
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals under the age of 18 and who do not qualify as emancipated minors * Individuals who do not speak either English, Dholuo or Swahili * Individuals who are not comfortable sharing confidential information about prenatal history, pregnancy course, obstetrical complications, clinical course, and experiences navigating health care system.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Assess time interval delays in access to emergency care among women and newborns who experience a critical health emergency | From subject enrollment through study completion, an average of 12 months. | Quantify interval time delays in accessing emergency MNH care among women and newborns who experience a critical pregnancy-related, obstetrical, or neonatal health emergency on Mfangano Island Division. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed