In rural Tanzania, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have shifted their roles due to government pressure and strict policies discouraging home births. To avoid penalties while still supporting pregnant women, TBAs publicly claim they only escort women to health facilities, though they continue to provide various forms of care. This approach allows them to navigate restrictive … [Read more...] about “We Only Escort Women to the Health Facility”: Traditional birth attendants and the performance of indicator-driven care in rural Tanzania
Maternal healthcare
Feasibility of Engaging Community Healthcare Workers to Identify and Enhance Subfertility Care in The Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Subfertility affects many people worldwide, including in Sri Lanka, despite its strong healthcare system. This study evaluated the use of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to improve fertility care in Jaffna’s Nallur MOH area. Over six months, the program showed positive results, easing the workload of public health midwives, improving referrals for subfertile couples, and … [Read more...] about Feasibility of Engaging Community Healthcare Workers to Identify and Enhance Subfertility Care in The Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Interventions to address postpartum depression in South Asian countries: a scoping review
Postpartum depression (PPD) affects mothers' health, bonding with their babies, and child development. This review examined studies on PPD in South Asia and found 20 studies from only four countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Many used community health workers to deliver culturally adapted mental health support. Some studies showed improved maternal mental health … [Read more...] about Interventions to address postpartum depression in South Asian countries: a scoping review
Acceptability of telemedicine for early surgical site infection diagnosis after cesarean delivery in rural Rwanda: a qualitative study
This study looked at how acceptable a telemedicine program was in rural Rwanda, where community health workers (CHWs) took photos of surgical wounds after cesarean sections and sent them to doctors for diagnosis. Interviews with 14 women and 12 CHWs showed strong support for the program, with benefits like faster healing, easier access to care, and cost savings. Some concerns … [Read more...] about Acceptability of telemedicine for early surgical site infection diagnosis after cesarean delivery in rural Rwanda: a qualitative study
Impact of Mobile Health (mHealth) Use by Community Health Workers on the Utilization of Maternity Care in Rural Malawi: A Time Series Analysis
Maternal mortality in Malawi is high due to limited maternity care. To improve access, a mobile health (mHealth) app, YendaNafe, was introduced for community health workers (CHWs) in rural areas. This study compared maternal health services before and after using the app. Results showed an immediate 22% increase in facility-based births but no significant short-term impact on … [Read more...] about Impact of Mobile Health (mHealth) Use by Community Health Workers on the Utilization of Maternity Care in Rural Malawi: A Time Series Analysis