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The maternal and newborn health eCohort to track longitudinal care quality: study protocol and survey development - PubMed

  • ️Mon Jan 01 2024

The maternal and newborn health eCohort to track longitudinal care quality: study protocol and survey development

Catherine Arsenault et al. Glob Health Action. 2024.

Abstract

The MNH eCohort was developed to fill gaps in maternal and newborn health (MNH) care quality measurement. In this paper, we describe the survey development process, recruitment strategy, data collection procedures, survey content and plans for analysis of the data generated by the study. We also compare the survey content to that of existing multi-country tools on MNH care quality. The eCohort is a longitudinal mixed-mode (in-person and phone) survey that will recruit women in health facilities at their first antenatal care (ANC) visit. Women will be followed via phone survey until 10-12 weeks postpartum. User-reported information will be complemented with data from physical health assessments at baseline and endline, extraction from MNH cards, and a brief facility survey. The final MNH eCohort instrument is centered around six key domains of high-quality health systems including competent care (content of ANC, delivery, and postnatal care for the mother and newborn), competent systems (prevention and detection, timely care, continuity, integration), user experience, health outcomes, confidence in the health system, and economic outcomes. The eCohort combines the maternal and newborn experience and, due to its longitudinal nature, will allow for quality assessment according to specific risks that evolve throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. Detailed information on medical and obstetric history and current health status of respondents and newborns will allow us to determine whether women and newborns at risk are receiving needed care. The MNH eCohort will answer novel questions to guide health system improvements and to fill data gaps in implementing countries.

Keywords: Health system quality; evidence-based care; implementation science; maternal and newborn health; quality of care.

Plain language summary

Added knowledge: The MNH eCohort will answer novel questions and provide information on undermeasured dimensions of MNH care quality included continuity of care, system competence, and user experience.Global health impact for policy and action: The data generated will inform policy makers to develop strategies to improve adherence to standards of care and quality for mothers and newborns.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Structure of the maternal and newborn health eCohort survey.

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Grants and funding

MEK received funding for the QuEST network and the eCohort study. Funding was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [grant number INV005254] and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs [grant number 81067262]. The funders did not play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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