Antenatal Care

Community Health Worker Interventions for Identifying and Managing Antenatal Depression: A Cluster-Linked Implementation Study

This study tested whether community health workers (CHWs) could help identify and support pregnant women with depression in rural areas. CHWs were trained to screen women, offer simple counseling, and refer serious cases to health facilities. They screened nearly 1,000 women, and about one in four showed signs of depression. Most accepted and completed the counseling sessions. … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Interventions for Identifying and Managing Antenatal Depression: A Cluster-Linked Implementation Study

This study looked at a new wearable device called neoSpot, used by community health workers to check vital signs of pregnant women during outreach in Lusaka, Zambia. Most women and health workers liked the device because it was fast, easy to use, and could measure many health signs at once. At first, some women were worried about using it, but those fears went away after … [Read more...] about Feasibility of Vital Signs Assessment by Community Health Workers during Antenatal Care Community Outreach in Lusaka, Zambia: A Qualitative Study

This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of community health workers (CHWs) making proactive home visits to improve antenatal care (ANC) in Mali. Compared to fixed-site CHW services, home visits significantly increased ANC use, including early and frequent visits, while saving costs. The approach was more effective and cost-efficient, showing strong potential for improving … [Read more...] about Cost-effectiveness analysis of proactive home visits compared with site-based community health worker care on antenatal care outcomes in Mali: a cluster-randomised trial

This study investigated the impact of home pregnancy testing, facilitated by community health volunteers (CHVs), on antenatal care (ANC) initiation in rural Kenya. Results showed that home pregnancy testing was widely accepted, providing early pregnancy detection and promoting early ANC uptake. Women appreciated the convenience and privacy, especially adolescents, who faced … [Read more...] about Exploring acceptability, opportunities, and challenges of community-based home pregnancy testing for early antenatal care initiation in rural Kenya

In Uganda, maternal health outcomes are challenged by low antenatal care (ANC) attendance, especially in rural areas. This study evaluated a specialized training program for Village Health Teams (VHTs), aimed at improving pregnant women's knowledge, attitudes, and ANC attendance in Eastern Uganda. Over six months, 228 pregnant women participated, receiving education during home … [Read more...] about Effectiveness Of a Community Health Worker-Led Education Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude, and Antenatal Care Attendance of Pregnant Women in Eastern Uganda. A Quasi- Experimental Study