Task-shifting in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management: A review of the obstructive lung disease program.

Objective: Task shifting, an approach to address physician shortage through redistribution of clinical tasks, may help address the high burden of chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. We aimed to measure its utility and impact in the Obstructive Lung Disease program (OLD). Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at five integrated outpatient departments of Primary Care Program within Indus Hospital & Health Network, Pakistan, from January 2018 to March 2023. After a formative evaluation, registered nurses were trained as Lung Health Nurses (LHNs) to perform spirometry, collect Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) including Asthma Control Test (ACT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score and COPD Assessment Test (CAT), counsel on inhaler use and tobacco cessation, and refer to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Data was collected online contemporaneously on REDCap and later analyzed using Excel and STATA 14. Results: Pre-implementation, a monthly average of 126 asthmatics and 33 COPD patients visited primary care centers. Medical records of 147 OLD patients showed 8% received inhaler education, 3% completed ACT and 2% had mMRC documented. Implementation included capacity building of nine LHNs. Of 7427 referrals to the program, 86% underwent nurse-led assessments. LHNs performed spirometry (92%), PROMs assessments [ACT (89%), CAT (91%), mMRC (85%)], inhaler education (97%), tobacco cessation advice (85%) and made PR referrals (94%). Conclusion: Trained nurses can play a role in providing holistic and timely care for patients with CRDs and strengthen existing healthcare systems. Future directions may include expanding nurse clinical counselling roles through telehealth monitoring and home management.

Antenatal cardiotocography in dutch primary midwife-led care: Maternal and perinatal outcomes and serious adverse events. A prospective observational cohort study.

PROBLEM: It is yet unknown whether shifting antenatal cardiotocography (aCTG) from obstetrician-led to midwife-led care leads to a safe reduction in referrals. BACKGROUND: ACTG is used to assess fetal well-being. In the Netherlands, the procedure has until now been performed as part of obstetrician-led care. Developments in E-health facilitates the performance of aCTG outside the hospital in midwife-led care, hereby increasing continuity of care. AIM: To evaluate 1) process outcomes of implementing aCTG for specific indications in primary midwife-led care; 2) maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women receiving aCTG in midwife-led care; 3) serious adverse events (with outcomes, causes, avoidability, and potential prevention strategies) that have occurred during the innovation project 'aCTG in midwife-led care'. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study and a case series study of serious adverse events. FINDINGS: A total of 1584 pregnant women with a specific aCTG indication were included in this cohort study for whom 1795 aCTGs were performed in midwife-led care. 1591 aCTGs(89.7%) were classified as reassuring. Referral to obstetrician-led care occurred for 234 women(13.0%) after an aCTG in midwife-led care of whom 202(86%) were referred back. Severe neonatal morbidity occurred in 27 neonates (1.7%). In the 5736 aCTGs included in the case series study, one case with a serious neonatal outcome was assessed as a serious adverse event attributable to human factors. DISCUSSION: ACTGs performed in midwife-led care increased continuity of care. In this innovation project, maternal and perinatal outcomes were in the expected range for women in midwife-led care.

Task shifting eating disorders prevention: A pilot study of selective interventions adapted for teacher-led universal delivery in secondary schools.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing effectiveness and sustainability of universal school-based eating disorder prevention is needed. This study adapted two existing selective prevention programmes for universal delivery, investigating feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects when delivered by trained teachers to classes of mixed-gender adolescents. METHOD: A three-arm controlled pilot study with Year 9 students (N = 288; Mage = 13.61 SDage = .50). Three schools in south Wales and south-west England were allocated to mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), dissonance-based intervention (DBI), or classes-as-usual (CAU) control. Self-reported eating disorder risk factors were collected at baseline, 6-week post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up. Focus groups were conducted post-intervention. RESULTS: Delivery and evaluation were feasible, allowing for flexibility in scheduling, with good retention. Student and teacher ratings indicated moderate acceptability of both interventions, with recommendations for refinement. Mixed model analyses, controlling for baseline, showed significant effects of condition across post-intervention and follow-up for body esteem (DBI > CAU; Cohen's d = .34) and positive affect (MBI > CAU, d = .58). For girls only, both MBI and DBI improved body satisfaction and internalization, and the MBI additionally resulted in improved weight and shape concerns, negative affect, and life disengagement (d's = .39-1.12), across post-intervention and follow-up. DISCUSSION: Selective eating disorder prevention programmes based on cognitive dissonance and mindfulness can be delivered universally in schools, by teachers, allowing for appropriate flexibility necessary for real world implementation. Moderate acceptability indicates areas for improving content and delivery; positive effects on key outcomes are encouraging. These findings provide support for further robust evaluation. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Existing universal eating disorder prevention is limited by small effects and reliance on highly trained facilitators. This study is the first to adapt mindfulness- and dissonance-based interventions for delivery by teachers, to adolescents of all genders in a classroom setting. Delivery was largely feasible and acceptable, and both interventions showed significant effects across key risk factors for eating disorders, with larger effect sizes than found previously. This underpins further robust evaluation.

The training of midwives to perform obstetric ultrasound scan in Africa for task shifting and extension of scope of practice: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound scan is one of the essential assessments that is crucial in the early identification of health risks during antenatal care. Its accessibility to women in low-and middle-income countries remains a serious challenge because ultrasound scans are not within the scope of practice for midwives. However, task shifting and extension of scope of practice aim to train midwives to assess pregnant women through an ultrasound scan. This paper aims to report the findings of a scoping review on the training of midwives to perform obstetric ultrasound scans in Africa. METHODS: The 6-step iterative framework for scoping reviews by Arksey and O'Malley was used to determine the extent of qualitative and quantitative evidence available on the training of midwives on obstetric ultrasound scans, which includes specifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, selecting studies, extracting and charting data, collating, summarising, and synthesising and reporting findings. RESULTS: A total of 12 articles from eight African countries were included in this scoping review. Three main themes and 13 sub-themes emerged and they are: obstetric ultrasound scan training, challenges experienced by midwives from task shifting and extension of scope of practice regarding obstetric ultrasound scan, and the value of task shifting and extension of scope of practice regarding obstetric ultrasound scan to midwives. DISCUSSION: Despite the available evidence that the training of midwives on obstetric ultrasound scans is essential to ensure the accessibility of quality antenatal health services, the training of midwives on obstetric ultrasound scans in some African countries remains a serious challenge. It is evident from this scoping review results that there is a need for African countries to incorporate obstetric ultrasound scans as part of the scope of practice of midwives. Task shifting necessitates prioritising the training of midwives on the use of obstetric ultrasound scans as one of the steps towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 3 targets by 2030.

Optimizing the roles of health workers to improve access to health services in Africa: an implementation framework for task shifting and sharing for policy and practice.

BACKGROUND: Globally, countries are taking actions to ensure that their population have improved access to people-centred and integrated health services. Attaining this requires improved access to health workers at all levels of health service delivery and equitably distributed by geographical location. Due to the persistent health worker shortages, countries have resorted to implementing task shifting and task sharing in various settings to optimally utilize existing health workers to improve access to health services. There are deliberations on the need for an implementation framework to guide the adoption and operationalization of task shifting and task sharing as a key strategy for optimally utilizing the existing health workforce towards the achievement of UHC. The objective of this study was to develop an implementation framework for task shifting and task sharing for policy and practice in Africa. METHODS: A sequential multimethod research design supported by scoping reviews, and qualitative descriptive study was employed in this study. The evidence generated was synthesized into an implementation framework that was evaluated for applicability in Africa by 36 subject matter experts. RESULTS: The implementation framework for task shifting and task sharing has three core components - context, implementation strategies and intended change. The implementation strategies comprise of iterative actions in the development, translation, and sustainment phases that to achieve an intended change. The implementation strategies in the framework include mapping and engagement of stakeholders, generating evidence, development, implementation and review of a road map (or action plan) and national and/or sub-national policies and strategies, education of health workers using manuals, job aids, curriculum and clinical guidelines, and monitoring, evaluation, reviews and learning. CONCLUSION: The implementation framework for task shifting and task sharing in Africa serves as a guide on actions needed to achieve national, regional and global goals based on contextual evidence. The framework illustrates the rationale and the role of a combination of factors (enablers and barriers) in influencing the implementation of task shifting and task sharing in Africa.

Principles for task shifting hypertension and diabetes screening and referral: a qualitative study exploring patient, community health worker and healthcare professional perceptions in rural Uganda.

BACKGROUND: A shortage of healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) combined with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes mellitus has resulted in increasing gaps in care delivery for NCDs. As community health workers (CHWs) often play an established role in LMIC healthcare systems, these programs could be leveraged to strengthen healthcare access. The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of task shifting screening and referral for hypertension and diabetes to CHWs in rural Uganda. METHODS: This qualitative, exploratory study was conducted in August 2021 among patients, CHWs and healthcare professionals. Through 24 in-depth interviews and ten focus group discussions, we investigated perceptions of task shifting to CHWs in the screening and referral of NCDs in Nakaseke, rural Uganda. This study employed a holistic approach targeting stakeholders involved in the implementation of task shifting programs. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically guided by the framework method. RESULTS: Analysis identified elements likely to be required for successful program implementation in this context. Fundamental drivers of CHW programs included structured supervision, patients' access to care through CHWs, community involvement, remuneration and facilitation, as well as building CHW knowledge and skills through training. Additional enablers comprised specific CHW characteristics such as confidence, commitment and motivation, as well as social relations and empathy. Lastly, socioemotional aspects such as trust, virtuous behavior, recognition in the community, and the presence of mutual respect were reported to be critical to the success of task shifting programs. CONCLUSION: CHWs are perceived as a useful resource when task shifting NCD screening and referral for hypertension and diabetes from facility-based healthcare workers. Before implementation of a task shifting program, it is essential to consider the multiple layers of needs portrayed in this study. This ensures a successful program that overcomes community concerns and may serve as guidance to implement task shifting in similar settings.

Boundary work in task-shifting practices - a qualitative study of reablement teams.

BACKGROUND: Health services worldwide have provided incentives for establishing teams to accommodate complex health care tasks, enhance patient outcomes and organizational efficiency, and compensate for shortages of health care professionals. Parallel to and partly due to the increased focus on teamwork, task shifting has become a health policy. Task shifting involves new tasks and responsibilities, which may result in social negotiations about occupational boundaries. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how the division of tasks, responsibilities, and roles in reablement practices can appear as boundary work between physiotherapists (PTs) and home trainers (HTs). METHODS: The study drew on data from fieldwork with seven Norwegian reablement teams, including observations and individual interviews with PTs and HTs. We conducted thematic analysis informed by a theoretical framework on professional boundaries. RESULTS: We identified two different practices, which we labeled as: i) "The engine and the assistant" and ii) "The symbiotic team." We drew on these practices and theory of boundary making and boundary blurring to interpret the results. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that boundary-making processes may generate asymmetric power relations that may constrain autonomous work and job satisfaction in teams, whereas boundary-blurring processes may promote collaborative practices that enhance holistic approaches and mutual learning on reablement teams.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Informed Behavioral Health Interventions Delivered by Non-Mental Health Professionals: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave behavioral and cognitive therapy that increases psychological flexibility through mindfulness, acceptance, and value-driven behavior change. ACT has been successfully used to inform a variety of health interventions. Using non-therapists to deliver ACT-based behavioral health interventions offers an opportunity to provide cost efficient and integrated care, particularly among underserved populations experiencing barriers to mental health care, such as inadequate insurance, mental health stigma, and provider shortages. This systematic review aims to: 1) identify ACT-informed behavioral health interventions delivered by laypeople and 2) review the specific characteristics of each intervention including number and duration of sessions, delivery modality, interventionist training, and intervention outcomes. Methods: Two databases (PubMed and PsycINFO) were systematically searched for relevant literature. To further identify relevant studies, references of included manuscripts were checked, the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science's webpage was examined, and an email was sent to the ACBS Health Special Interest Group listserv. Study abstracts and full texts (in English) were screened, resulting in 23 eligible articles describing 19 different interventions. Results: A total of 1,781 abstracts were screened, 76 were eligible for full-text review, and 23 were included in a narrative synthesis. There were 19 unique interventions identified and delivered by the following: general healthcare workers (n= 7), trained researchers (n = 5), women/mothers (n= 2), municipal workers (n= 2), and teachers (n = 3). Eleven studies were RCTs and eight utilized alternative study designs. Study quality varied, with two rated as high risk for bias and eight rated to have some concerns. Target populations included clinical and non-clinical samples. There was some consistency in the effects reported in the studies: increases in pain tolerance, acceptance, and identifying and engaging in value driven behavior, improvements in cognitive flexibility, and reductions in psychological distress. Conclusions: Findings suggest that ACT interventions can be successfully delivered by a variety of laypeople and effectively address psychological distress and increase health behaviors.

Increased Accessibility to Primary Healthcare Due to Nurse Prescribing of Medicines.

Since January 2016, nurses and midwives in Poland have had the right, with some restrictions, to prescribe medicines. Consequently, Polish patients received the same opportunity as in other countries worldwide: easier access to certain health services, i.e., medical prescribing. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of structural changes which increased the nurses' competences on the accessibility to prescription visits for patients receiving primary healthcare on the example of Medical and Diagnostic Centre (MDC), and to discuss the general trend of legal changes in nursing profession regulations. We performed a detailed analysis of the data on the MDC patient population in Siedlce who received at least one prescription written by a general practitioner and/or a nurse/midwife in the years 2017-2019.The largest number of prescription visits made by nurses concerned patients aged 50-70 years, as this age range includes the largest number of patients with chronic diseases who need continued pharmacological treatment originally administered by doctors. An increasing tendency for prescription visits made by nurses was recorded, with a simultaneous downward trend in the same type of visits undertaken by doctors at MDC. Nurses' involvement in prescribing medications as a continued pharmacotherapy during holiday seasons results in patients having continuous access to medication. An upward trend was also observed in the number of medications prescribed by nurses per patient. Structural changes in the legal regulations of the nursing profession improve patients' access to prescription visits under primary healthcare. Further research is recommended to evaluate the dynamics of these trends and the impact of newly introduced nursing competences on the accessibility of prescription visits for patients.

How task-sharing in abortion care became the norm in Sweden: A case study of historic and current determinants and events.

We performed a country case study using thematic analysis of interviews and existing grey and published literature to identify facilitators and barriers to the implementation of midwife-provided abortion care in Sweden. Identified facilitating factors were: (1) the historical role and high status of Swedish midwives; (2) Swedish research and development of medical abortion that enabled an enlarged clinical role for midwives; (3) collaborations between individual clinicians and researchers within the professional associations, and the autonomy of clinical units to implement changes in clinical practice; (4) a historic precedent of changes in abortion policy occurring without prior official or legal sanction; (5) a context of liberal abortion laws, secularity, gender equality, public support for abortion, trust in public institutions; and (6) an increasing global interest in task-shifting to increase access and reduce costs. Identified barriers/risks were: (1) the lack of systems for monitoring and evaluation; and (2) a loss of physician competence in abortion care.

Optimizing task-sharing in abortion care in Ghana: Stakeholder perspectives.

Ghana has made progress in expanding providers in abortion care but access to the service is still a challenge. We explored stakeholder perspectives on task-sharing in abortion care and the opportunities that exist to optimize this strategy in Ghana. We purposively sampled 12 representatives of agencies that played a key role in expanding abortion care to include midwives for key informant interviews. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then coded for thematic analysis. Stakeholders indicated that Ghana was motivated to practice task-sharing in abortion care because unsafe abortion was contributing significantly to maternal mortality. They noted that the Ghana Health Service utilized the high maternal mortality in the country at the time, advancements in medicine, and the lack of clarity in the definition of the term "health practitioner" to work with partner nongovernmental organizations to successfully task-share abortion care to include midwives. Access, however, is still poor and provider stigma continues to contribute significantly to conscientious objection. This calls for further task-sharing in abortion care to include medical or physician assistants, community health officers, and pharmacists to ensure that more women have access to abortion care.

Different models of pharmaceutical services and care in primary healthcare clinics in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: Challenges and opportunities for pharmacy practice.

BACKGROUND: Primary health care (PHC) re-engineering forms a crucial part of South Africa's National Health Insurance (NHI), with pharmaceutical services and care being crucial to treatment outcomes. However, owing to a shortage of pharmacists within PHC clinics, task-shifting of the dispensing process to pharmacist's assistants and nurses is common practice. The implications of this task-shifting process on the provision of pharmaceutical services and care remains largely unstudied. AIM: The study aimed to explore the pharmacist-based, pharmacist's assistant-based and nurse-based dispensing models within the PHC setting. SETTING: The Nelson Mandela Bay Health District, South Africa. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was utilised comprising of Phase 1: a pharmaceutical services audit to analyse pharmaceutical service provision and Phase 2: semi-structured interviews to describe the pharmaceutical care provision within each dispensing model thematically. RESULTS: Pharmaceutical services partially fulfilled minimum standards within all models, however, challenges exist that limit the quality of these services. Phase 2 showed that the provision of pharmaceutical care within all models was restricted by context-related constraints, thus patient-centred activities to underpin pharmaceutical services were limited. CONCLUSION: Although pharmaceutical services may have been available for all models, compromised quality of these services impacted overall quality of care. Limited pharmaceutical care provision was evident within each dispensing model. The results raised concerns about the current utilisation of pharmacy personnel, including the pharmacist, within the PHC setting. Further opportunities exist, if constraints allow, for the pharmacist to contribute to better patient-centred care.

The Secret History method and the development of an ethos of care: Preparing the maternity environment for integrating mental health care in South Africa.

South Africa, like many low-and-middle-income countries, is integrating mental health services into routine Primary Health Care (PHC) through a task-shifting approach to reduce the gaps in treatment coverage. There is concern, however, that this approach will exacerbate nurses' abuse of patients currently common within PHC in the country. To address this concern, the Perinatal Mental Health Project developed its Secret History method, a critical pedagogical intervention for care-providers working within maternity settings. This article describes the method's theoretical underpinnings and practical application amongst nurses. Drawing on Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed and contrary to traditional nursing training in South Africa, the method creates a space for nurses to interrogate and reimagine nurse-patient relations. By introducing nurses to a counter ideology of empathic care, the method seeks to prepare the maternity environment for mental health task-shifting initiatives and ensure these initiatives are more democratic, responsive and humane.

Reinvigorating postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device use in Pakistan: an observational assessment of competency-based training of health providers using low-cost simulation models.

BACKGROUND: Improved training approaches have the potential to overcome barriers to the use of postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUDs) in Pakistan, including a shortage of female providers who are able to insert the device. This study assessed the effectiveness and acceptability of a competency-based onsite training approach that employed a newly developed anatomic model (the Mama-U) to train doctors and midwives on postpartum family planning (PPFP) and the insertion of PPIUDs. METHODS: An observational, mixed methods study conducted training evaluations and knowledge and skills assessments with 11 trainers and 88 doctors and midwives who participated in eight PPIUD training sessions. Two months later, follow-up interviews and clinical assessments were conducted with 20 providers, and interviews and a focus group discussion were conducted with 85 married women who received a PPIUD from a trained provider. RESULTS: The training significantly improved provider knowledge (p < 0.001), and follow-up assessments showed that clinical skills were retained for at least two months post-training. After training, 81.8% of providers were confident in their ability to provide PPIUD services, and midwives and doctors had similar PPIUD insertion skills. However, midwives were more likely than doctors to meet all 10 key requirements during PPIUD counseling sessions (63.9% versus 13.3%, p = 0.004). Providers found the Mama-U model to be a useful tool for client counseling as well as training and skills practice, and clients agreed. Trainers identified the low cost, light weight, and portability of the Mama-U model as advantages over the conventional training model and noted that its abstract shape reduced embarrassment among trainers, providers, and clients. CONCLUSIONS: Competency-based training with the Mama-U model can improve the quality of PPIUD counseling and PPIUD insertion services and has the potential to extend PPFP/PPIUD service delivery to midwives working in rural Pakistan. The portable, low-cost Mama-U permits onsite, on-the-job PPIUD insertion training that is tailored to the local setting; it is also well suited for the continuing practice that providers need to maintain their skills. Further research is needed to confirm the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of the Mama-U at scale and in other settings.

Practical approaches to managing postpartum haemorrhage with limited resources.

Mortality from postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is higher in low resource settings due to increased incidence, higher case fatality rates and poor general health of the population. The challenges of managing PPH with limited resources are presented. Feasible interventions for preventing and treating PPH for home births are described. Given that maternity care is organised around levels of care in low resource settings, guidance is provided for what measures can be performed to manage PPH at different levels of care (clinic, community health centre, district hospital, regional and central hospital); and by which cadre (midwife, clinical officer, general doctor, specialist). Effective management of PPH requires on-going training and emergency drills. Reducing mortality from PPH is not possible without available urgent transport from home to facility and between levels of care. In addition, the essential building blocks of the health system must be functional to enable effective management of PPH.

Repositioning traditional birth attendants to provide improved maternal healthcare services in rural Ghana.

Following the World Health Organization's recommendation for developing countries to discontinue the use of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in rural areas, the government of Ghana banned TBAs from offering maternal health care services. Since this ban, community-level conflicts have intensified between TBAs, (who still see themselves as legitimate culturally mandated traditional midwives) and nurses. In this articles, we propose a partnership model for a sustainable resolution of these conflicts. This article emanates from the apparent ideological discontent between people from mainstream medical practice who advocate for the complete elimination of TBAs in the maternal health service space and individuals who argue for the inclusion of TBAs in the health sector given the shortage of skilled birth attendants and continued patronage of their services by rural women even in context where nurses are available. In the context of the longstanding manpower deficit in the health sector in Ghana, improving maternal healthcare in rural communities will require harnessing all locally available human resources. This cannot be achieved by "throwing out" a critical group of actors who have been involved in health-care provision for many decades. We propose a win-win approach that involve retraining of TBAs, partnership with health practitioners, and task shifting.

The role and scope of practice of midwives in humanitarian settings: a systematic review and content analysis.

BACKGROUND: Midwives have an essential role to play in preparing for and providing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in humanitarian settings due to their unique knowledge and skills, position as frontline providers and geographic and social proximity to the communities they serve. There are considerable gaps in the international guidance that defines the scope of practice of midwives in crises, particularly for the mitigation and preparedness, and recovery phases. We undertook a systematic review to provide further clarification of this scope of practice and insights to optimise midwifery performance. The review aimed to determine what SRH services midwives are involved in delivering across the emergency management cycle in humanitarian contexts, and how they are working with other professionals to deliver health care. METHODS: Four electronic databases and the websites of 33 organisations were searched between January and March 2017. Papers were eligible for inclusion if they were published in English between 2007 and 2017 and reported primary research pertaining to the role of midwives in delivering and performing any component of sexual and/or reproductive health in humanitarian settings. Content analysis was used to map the study findings to the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for SRH across the three phases of the disaster management cycle and identify how midwives work with other members of the health care team. RESULTS: Fourteen studies from ten countries were included. Twelve studies were undertaken in conflict settings, and two were conducted in the context of the aftermath of natural disasters. We found a paucity of evidence from the research literature that examines the activities and roles undertaken by midwives across the disaster management cycle. This lack of evidence was more apparent during the mitigation and preparedness, and recovery phases than the response phase of the disaster management cycle. CONCLUSION: Research-informed guidelines and strategies are required to better align the scope of practice of midwives with the objectives of multi-agency guidelines and agreements, as well as the activities of the MISP, to ensure that the potential of midwives can be acknowledged and optimised across the disaster management cycle.

Assessing the operational feasibility and acceptability of an inhalable formulation of oxytocin for improving community-based prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Myanmar: a qualitative inquiry.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the potential operational feasibility and acceptability of a heat-stable, inhaled oxytocin (IOT) product for community-based prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Myanmar. METHODS: A qualitative inquiry was conducted between June 2015 and February 2016 through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Research was conducted in South Dagon township (urban setting) and in Ngape and Thanlyin townships (rural settings) in Myanmar. Eleven focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers, healthcare providers and other key informants. All audio recordings were transcribed verbatim in Myanmar language and were translated into English. Thematic content analysis was done using NVivo software. RESULTS: Future introduction of an IOT product for community-based services was found to be acceptable among mothers and healthcare providers and would be feasible for use by lower cadres of healthcare providers, even in remote settings. Responses from healthcare providers and community members highlighted that midwives and volunteer auxiliary midwives would be key advocates for promoting community acceptance of the product. Healthcare providers perceived the ease of use and lack of dependence on cold storage as the main enablers for IOT compared with the current gold standard oxytocin injection. A single-use disposable device with clear pictorial instructions and a price that would be affordable by the poorest communities was suggested. Appropriate training was also said to be essential for the future induction of the product into community settings. CONCLUSION: In Myanmar, where home births are common, access to cold storage and skilled personnel who are able to deliver injectable oxytocin is limited. Among community members and healthcare providers, IOT was perceived to be an acceptable and feasible intervention for use by lower cadres of healthcare workers, and thus may be an alternative solution for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in community-based settings in the future.

Combining task shifting and community-based care to improve maternal health: Practical approaches and patient perceptions.

Globally, community-based care and task shifting strategies are used to address maternal healthcare shortages in low-income countries. Limited research exists on models that combine these strategies. Using a qualitative approach, we explored Haitian women's perceptions of the Midwives for Haiti model, which unites task shifting and community-based care by training nurses as skilled birth attendants and offering healthcare via rotating, mobile clinics. Eight focus groups (N = 52) were conducted in rural Haiti in March 2017. Thematic analysis of data indicated that perceptions of care were universally positive. Participants cited accessible patient-centred care, affordable services, and health education as primary motivators to attend. Results illustrated the importance of women's perceptions on the future use of mobile clinic sites or other formal care. Future efforts to address maternal healthcare shortages should consider the Midwives for Haiti model, combining task shifting and community-based care to address common social, topographical, or financial barriers to maternal healthcare.

Task shifting in active management of the third stage of labor: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL) describes interventions with the common goal to prevent postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). In low- and middle-income countries, implementation of AMTSL is hampered by shortage of skilled birth attendants and a high percentage of home deliveries. Task shifting of specific AMTSL components to unskilled birth attendants or self-administration could be a strategy to increase access to potentially life-saving interventions. This study was designed to evaluate the effect, acceptance and safety of task shifting of specific aspects of AMTSL to unskilled birth attendants. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in five databases in September 2015 to identify intervention studies of AMTSL implemented by unskilled birth attendants or pregnant women themselves. Quality of studies was evaluated with an adapted Cochrane Collaboration assessment tool. RESULTS: Of 2469 studies screened, 21 were included. All studies assessed implementation of uterotonics (misoprostol tablets or oxytocin injections), administered by community health workers (CHWs), auxiliary midwives, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) or self-administration at antenatal (home) visits or delivery. Task shifting for none of the other AMTSL components was reported. Task shifting of provision of uterotonics reduced the risk of PPH (RR 0.16 to 1) compared to standard care (13 studies, n = 15.197). The correct dose and timing was reported for 83.4 to 99.8% (5 studies, n = 6083) and 63 to 100% (9 studies, n = 8378) women respectively. Uterotonics were recommended to others by 80 to 99.7% (7 studies, n = 6445); 80 to 99.4% (5 studies, n = 2677) would use the drug at next delivery. Willingness to pay for uterotonics varied from 54.6 to 100% (7 studies, n = 6090). CONCLUSION: Task shifting of AMTSL has thus far been evaluated for administration of uterotonics (misoprostol tablets and oxytocin injected by CHWs and auxiliary midwives) and resulted in reduction of PPH, high rates of appropriate use and satisfaction among users. In order to increase AMTSL coverage in low-staffed health facilities, task shifting of uterine massage or postpartum tonus assessment to unskilled attendants or delivered women could be considered. Task shifting of controlled cord traction is currently not recommended.