Access to maternal health services for Indigenous women in low- and middle-income countries: an updated integrative review of the literature from 2018 to 2023.

INTRODUCTION: Ninety-seven per cent of Indigenous Peoples live in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). A previous systematic integrative review of articles published between 2000 and 2017 identified numerous barriers for Indigenous women in LMICs in accessing maternal healthcare services. It is timely given the aim of achieving Universal Health Coverage in six years' time, by 2030, to undertake another review. This article updates the previous review exploring the recent available literature on Indigenous women's access to maternal health services in LMICs identifying barriers to services. METHODS: An integrative review of literature published between 2018 and 2023 was undertaken. This review followed a systematic process using Whittemore and Knafl's five-step framework for integrative reviews and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 944 articles were identified from six databases: Academic Search Premier, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus with Full Text and APA PsycArticles (through EBSCOhost). The search was undertaken on 16 January 2023. After screening of the title/abstract and the full text using inclusion and exclusion criteria 26 articles were identified. Critical appraisal resulted in 24 articles being included in the review. Data were extracted using a matrix informed by Penchansky and Thomas's taxonomy, extended by Saurman, which focused on six dimensions of access to health care: affordability, accessibility, availability, accommodation, acceptability and awareness. Ten studies took place in Asia, 10 studies were from the Americas and four studies took place in the African region. Seventeen articles were qualitative, two were quantitative and five were mixed methods. The methods for the integrative review were prespecified in a protocol, registered at Open Science Framework. RESULTS: Barriers identified included affordability; community awareness of services including poor communication between providers and women; the availability of services, with staff often missing from the facilities; poor quality services, which did not consider the cultural and spiritual needs of Indigenous Peoples; an overreliance on the biomedical model; a lack of facilities to enable appropriate maternal care; services that did not accommodate the everyday needs of women, including work and family responsibilities; lack of understanding of Indigenous cultures from health professionals; and evidence of obstetric violence and mistreatment of Indigenous women. CONCLUSION: Barriers to Indigenous women's access to maternal health services are underpinned by the social exclusion and marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples. Empowerment of Indigenous women and communities in LMICs is required as well as initiatives to challenge the stigmatisation and marginalisation that they face. The importance of community involvement in design and interventions that support the political and human rights of Indigenous Peoples are required. Limitations of this review include the possibility of missing articles as it was sometimes unclear from the articles whether a particular group was from an Indigenous community. More research on access to services in the postnatal period is still needed, as well as quality quantitative research. There is also a lack of research on Indigenous groups in North Africa, and in sub-Saharan Africa - especially hunter-gatherer groups - as well as the impact of COVID-19 on access to services.

Translating lessons to reinforce national stillbirth response; multi-stakeholder perspectives regarding priorities and opportunities to deliver quality evidence-based interventions within a limited-resource context in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: There is noted increase in attention towards implementation of evidence-based interventions in response to the stillbirth burden in low- and middle-income countries including Uganda. Recent results reporting some of the strategies adopted have tended to focus much attention towards their overall effect on the stillbirth burden. More is needed regarding stakeholder reflections on priorities and opportunities for delivering quality services within a limited resource setting like Uganda. This paper bridges this knowledge gap. METHODS: Data collection occurred between March and June 2019 at the national level. Qualitative interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis technique. RESULTS: Identified priorities included; a focus on supportive functions such as the referral system, attention to the demand side component of maternal health services, and improvements in the support supervision particularly focusing on empowering subnational level actors. The need to strengthen the learning for better implementation of strategies which are compatible with context was also reported. A comprehensive and favourable policy environment with the potential to direct implementation of strategies, harnessing the private sector contribution as well as the role of national level champions and patient advocates to amplify national stillbirth reduction efforts for continued visibility and impact were recommended. CONCLUSION: Great potential exists within the current strategies to address the national stillbirth burden. However, priorities such as improving the supportive functions of MCH service delivery and attention to the demand side need to be pursued more for better service delivery with opportunities including a favourable policy environment primed to better serve the current strategies. This calls for dedicated efforts targeted at addressing gaps within the existing priorities and opportunities for better delivery of national strategies to address the stillbirth burden in Uganda.

The experiences and perceptions of rural and remote nurses who provide care to pregnant women in the absence of midwives.

INTRODUCTION: Maternity unit closures in rural and remote settings of Australia have left a substantial gap in services for pregnant women. In the absence of midwives, and when women are unable to attend a maternity facility, registered nurses (RNs) are required to fill the void. While maternity education can attempt to prepare RNs for such encounters, there is little documented to suggest it meets all their physical and psychological needs. The existing challenges for health professionals, practising a vast generalist scope of practice while living and working in a rural and remote location, have been well researched and documented. How nurses feel about the expectation that they work outside their scope of practice to provide maternity care in a rural and remote setting in Australia has not been asked until now. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of RNs who find themselves in this situation. METHODS: The study utilised a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to examine the experiences and perceptions of rural and remote nurses providing care for pregnant women. RNs working in rural and remote health facilities that had no maternity services were recruited by a purposive sampling method. Semistructured conversational interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was guided by van Manen's analytical approach. RESULTS: Eight nurses participated, and from the data three themes, each with several subthemes, emerged: 'being-in-the-world of the rural and remote nurse' - described how participants viewed rural and remote nursing as an entity with unchangeable aspects that could not be considered in isolation; 'scope of practice - unprepared or underprepared' described how, despite their existing and extensive nursing skills, participants felt ill-equipped theoretically, practically and mentally to care for pregnant women; 'moral distress' - participants expanded their feelings of unpreparedness to include inadequacy, fear, and appropriateness of care delivery. DISCUSSION: The realism of rural and remote nursing practice demonstrates that at some point in their career, rural and remote nurses will care for a labouring and/or pregnant woman at high risk for complications. Participants in this study appeared open and honest in their interviews, displaying pride at their extensive nursing skills and job satisfaction. However, they were unanimous in their discussions of what being a nurse and providing maternity care in a rural and remote setting meant to themselves and to pregnant women. They suggested care was fragmented and inadequate from a workforce that is inadequately prepared and stressed. CONCLUSION: This study has highlighted another concerning aspect of rural and remote midwifery care - the experiences and perceptions of eight nurses delivering care that has previously been overlooked. The united voice of the RNs in this study warrants a platform to speak from and deserves acknowledgement and attention from government and midwifery policy drivers. These nurses, and the women receiving their care, deserve more.

Maternal satisfaction with postnatal home visitation services by community health nurses in Ashanti Region, Ghana: A cross-sectional correlational study.

Efforts have been made to improve maternal and child health care globally, with a focus on promoting postnatal home visitation care. Despite the known significance of postnatal home visits, concerns still exist regarding mothers' satisfaction with home visitation care. This study examined maternal satisfaction with postnatal home visitation care in the Ashanti Region. A cross sectional correlational study design was used to gather data from the study participants using the Jipi's questionnaire to assess maternal satisfaction with healthcare. Ten (10) district hospitals were randomly selected from 27 district hospitals in the region. A sample size of 170 postnatal mothers were then selected randomly from the 10 districts hospitals according to proportion of mothers at each facility. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse the data using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at a p-value = 0.05. The results indicated that the mothers were satisfied with the overall home visitation services, yet, showed dissatisfaction towards some specific postnatal care, including the quality of information on maternal care and support rendered by the CHNs regarding the care of the newborn during their visit. The satisfaction levels of mothers with these services are high, yet there are still opportunities for improving them by addressing specific challenges and tailoring these services to the diverse needs of postnatal mothers. In conclusion, CHNs' work during postnatal period is essential in promoting the health of both the baby and the mother.

Des efforts ont été déployés pour améliorer les soins de santé maternelle et infantile à l'échelle mondiale, en mettant l'accent sur la promotion des soins postnatals à domicile. Malgré l'importance connue des visites postnatales à domicile, des inquiétudes subsistent quant à la satisfaction des mères à l'égard des soins de visite à domicile. Cette étude a examiné la satisfaction des mères à l'égard des soins postnatals à domicile dans la région d'Ashanti. Un plan d'étude corrélationnelle transversale a été utilisé pour recueillir des données auprès des participantes à l'étude à l'aide du questionnaire Jipi afin d'évaluer la satisfaction des mères à l'égard des soins de santé. Dix (10) hôpitaux de district ont été sélectionnés au hasard parmi 27 hôpitaux de district de la région. Un échantillon de 170 mères postnatales a ensuite été sélectionné au hasard dans les 10 hôpitaux de district en fonction de la proportion de mères dans chaque établissement. SPSS version 25 a été utilisé pour analyser les données à l'aide de statistiques descriptives et du chi carré à une valeur p = 0,05. Les résultats ont indiqué que les mères étaient satisfaites de l'ensemble des services de visites à domicile, mais qu'elles montraient une insatisfaction à l'égard de certains soins postnatals spécifiques, notamment de la qualité des informations sur les soins maternels et du soutien apporté par les CHN concernant les soins du nouveau-né lors de leur visite. Les niveaux de satisfaction des mères à l'égard de ces services sont élevés, mais il existe encore des possibilités de les améliorer en relevant des défis spécifiques et en adaptant ces services aux divers besoins des mères postnatales. En conclusion, le travail des RCS pendant la période postnatale est essentiel pour promouvoir la santé du bébé et de la mère.

Improving Maternal Health Care Quality and Outcomes: Evaluation of a Pregnancy Medical Home.

Current maternal care recommendations in the United States focus on monitoring fetal development, management of pregnancy complications, and screening for behavioral health concerns. Often missing from these recommendations is support for patients experiencing socioeconomic or behavioral health challenges during pregnancy. A Pregnancy Medical Home (PMH) is a multidisciplinary maternal health care team with nurse navigators serving as patient advocates to improve the quality of care a patient receives and health outcomes for both mother and infant. Using bivariate comparisons between PMH patients and reference groups, as well as interviews with project team members and PMH graduates, this evaluation assessed the impact of a PMH at an academic medical university on patient care and birth outcomes. This PMH increased depression screenings during pregnancy and increased referrals to behavioral health care. This evaluation did not find improvements in maternal or infant birth outcomes. Interviews found notable successes and areas for program enhancement.

Co-creation of a toolkit to assist risk communication and clinical decision-making in severe preeclampsia: SPOT-Impact study design.

Globally, the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, especially preeclampsia, remains high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The burden of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes is particularly high for women who develop a hypertensive disorder remote from term (<34 weeks). In parallel, many women have a suboptimal experience of care. To improve the quality of care in terms of provision and experience, there is a need to support the communication of risks and making of treatment decision in ways that promote respectful maternity care. Our study objective is to co-create a tool(kit) to support clinical decision-making, communication of risks and shared decision-making in preeclampsia with relevant stakeholders, incorporating respectful maternity care, justice, and equity principles. This qualitative study detailing the exploratory phase of co-creation takes place over 17 months (Nov 2021-March 2024) in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions of Ghana. Informed by ethnographic observations of care interactions, in-depth interviews and focus group and group discussions, the tool(kit) will be developed with survivors and women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their families, health professionals, policy makers, and researchers. The tool(kit) will consist of three components: quantitative predicted risk (based on external validated risk models or absolute risk of adverse outcomes), risk communication, and shared decision-making support. We expect to co-create a user-friendly tool(kit) to improve the quality of care for women with preeclampsia remote from term which will contribute to better maternal and perinatal health outcomes as well as better maternity care experience for women in Ghana.

Adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes is high for women who develop preeclampsia remote from term (<34 weeks). To improve the quality of provision and experience of care, there is a need to support communication of risks and treatment decisions that promotes respectful maternity care.This article describes the methodology deployed to cocreate a user-friendly tool(kit) to support risk communication and shared decision-making in the context of severe preeclampsia in a low resource setting.

A context-driven approach through stakeholder engagement to introduce a digital emergency obstetric and newborn care register into routine obstetric health care services in Bangladesh.

Background: Emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) in Bangladesh focusses on maternal health, whereby it addresses childbirth and postpartum complications to ensure women's health and well-being. It was transitioned to a digital platform to overcome challenges with the paper-based EmONC register and we conducted implementation research to assess the outcome. Here we outline the stakeholder engagement process integral to the implementation research process. Methods: We adopted a four-step stakeholder engagement model based on the identification, sensitisation, involvement, and engagement of stakeholders. The approach was informed by previous experience, desk reviews, and expert consultations to ensure comprehensive engagement with stakeholders at multiple levels. Led by the Maternal Health Programme of the Government of Bangladesh, we involved high-power and high-interest stakeholders in developing a joint action plan for digitisation of the paper-based EmONC register. Finally, we demonstrated this digital EmONC register in real-life settings to stakeholders at different levels. Results: The successful demonstration process fostered government ownership and collaboration with multiple stakeholders, while laying the foundation for scalability and sustainability. Nevertheless, our experience highlighted that the stakeholder engagement process is context-driven, time-consuming, resource-intensive, iterative, and dynamic, and it requires involving stakeholders with varied expertise. Effective strategic planning, facilitation, and the allocation of sufficient time and resources are essential components for successful stakeholder engagement. Conclusions: Our experience demonstrates the potential of adopting the 'identification, sensitisation, involvement, and engagement' stakeholder engagement model. Success in implementing this model in diverse settings depends on leveraging knowledge gained during implementation, maintaining robust communication with stakeholders, and harnessing the patience and determination of the facilitating organisation.

Maternal Health Considerations: Highlighting and advancing opportunities for improved maternal health.

The special collection on Maternal Health Considerations offers a comprehensive exploration of critical issues surrounding maternal well-being across diverse contexts and disciplines. Recognising that maternal health extends beyond the physiological realm, this collection delves into the multifaceted dimensions of maternal well-being, including physical, mental, and socio-ecological factors. The collection comprises a series of interdisciplinary studies that investigate various facets of maternal health, from conception to postpartum stages. It addresses the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and socio-cultural determinants that influence maternal health outcomes. By adopting a holistic approach, the contributors shed light on the interconnectedness of maternal well-being. Key themes explored within this collection include the impact of prenatal care on maternal and neonatal health outcomes, as well as the role of mental health in shaping maternal experiences. In addition, the collection presents innovative recommendations to enhancing maternal well-being, such as community-based interventions, technological advancements, and future policy considerations. Furthermore, the special collection emphasises the significance of culturally sensitive care in promoting maternal health. It highlights the need for tailored interventions that respect the diversity of maternal experiences across different ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups. Contributors to this collection employ a range of methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative research case studies, which provide an intricate overview of the current state of maternal health research. The collection also offers valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare practitioners, researchers, and advocates working towards improving maternal health outcomes worldwide. It serves as a vital resource for contributing to our understanding of the complexities surrounding maternal well-being. It offers a platform for critical dialogue and collaborative efforts aimed at promoting holistic maternal health.

Testing the feasibility of a translated and culturally adapted person-centred training programme in maternal and newborn healthcare in Democratic Republic of Congo: A process evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Ensuring quality of maternal and newborn healthcare is challenging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity rate is high. Essential for quality care is a person-centred approach. One model of person-centred care (PCC) has been developed at Gothenburg University. To support its implementation a training programme, "Mutual Meetings", has been developed. This study aims to test the feasibility of a translated and culturally adapted version of this PCC training programme for healthcare providers in the maternal and newborn healthcare context of DRC. METHODS: The PCC programme was translated into French and tested in a workshop with 31 maternal and newborn healthcare providers in eastern DRC. The feasibility of the programme was evaluated through focus group interviews and individual interviews. The interview transcripts were analysed deductively using key components in a process evaluation framework including fidelity, dose, reach, adaptation, acceptability, and application. RESULTS: The French PCC programme exceeded the participants' expectations and was found being applicable in both teaching and clinical setting with some suggested contextual modifications. Its pedagogic structure including a participatory reflective approach, was perceived innovative and inspirational, mediated a sense of comfort, and enabled the participants to use a person-centred approach towards each other. CONCLUSION: The results show that the French on-site version of the PCC training programme was valid in terms of feasibility and how it was received by the participants. The study demonstrates the importance of contextual adaptation of complex interventions in new settings.

Person-centred care (PCC) research in Ghana: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Person-centred care (PCC) is provision of care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions. While there is a large body of evidence on the benefits of PCC in high-income countries, little research exists on PCC in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. Most studies on PCC have focused on maternity care as part of the global movement of respectful maternity care. The few studies on patient experiences and health system responsiveness beyond maternal health also highlight gaps in patient experience and satisfaction as well as discrimination in health facilities, which leads to the most vulnerable having the poorest experiences. The protocol for this scoping review aims to systematically map the extent of literature focused on PCC in Ghana by identifying patient expectations and preferences, barriers and facilitators, and interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The protocol will be guided by the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework and recommendations by Levac et al. A comprehensive search strategy will be used to search for published articles in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the African Journals Online from their inception to August 2022. Grey literature and reference lists of included studies will also be searched. Two independent reviewers will perform the literature search, eligibility assessments and study selection. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram for the scoping reviews will be used to outline the study selection process. Extracted data from the included articles will be synthesised and reported under key concepts derived from the outcomes of the scoping review. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This scoping review does not require ethical approval. The findings will be disseminated through publications and conference presentations. SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION: OSF Registration DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZMDH9.

Patient navigation in women's health care for maternal health and noncancerous gynecologic conditions: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the scope of patient navigation studies on women's health care for maternal health and noncancerous gynecologic conditions and aimed to report the characteristics of the identified patient navigation programs. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Five electronic databases were searched for relevant studies published in English: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycInfo. There were no restrictions on the publication date and the search was completed in July 2023. RESULTS: This scoping review included 14 studies, which collectively examined seven patient navigation programs. All selected studies were related to maternal health issues (e.g., perinatal health problems and contraception for birth spacing). Close to two-thirds of the patient navigation services were provided by women (n=9, 64.3%) and half by lay navigators (n=7, 50.0%). The majority incorporated the use of mobile health technologies (n=11, 78.6%). All of the patient navigation programs included in the review coordinated the necessary clinical and social support services to improve women's access to care. CONCLUSION: Patient navigation appears to be in its nascent phase in the field of maternal health. The results of this study suggest that the implementation of patient navigation services could potentially improve access to care for socially disadvantaged women and families. Furthermore, providing patient navigation services that are specifically tailored to meet women's needs could improve the quality of maternity care.

Global health systems strengthening: FIGO's strategic view on reducing maternal and newborn mortality worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that successful health systems strengthening (HSS) projects have addressed disparities and inequities in maternal and perinatal care in low-income countries. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review covered the period between 1980 and 2022, focusing on successful HSS interventions within health systems' seven core components that improved maternal and perinatal care. RESULTS: The findings highlight the importance of integrating quality interventions into robust health systems, as this has been shown to reduce maternal and newborn mortality. However, several challenges, including service delivery gaps, poor data use, and funding deficits, continue to hinder the delivery of quality care. To improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, a comprehensive HSS strategy is essential, which should include infrastructure enhancement, workforce skill development, access to essential medicines, and active community engagement. CONCLUSION: Effective health systems, leadership, and community engagement are crucial for a comprehensive HSS approach to catalyze progress toward universal health coverage and global improvements in maternal and newborn health.

Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health: Evolution of a program to address maternal morbidity and mortality.

The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health program is a national investment in promoting safe care for every birth in the United States and lowering rates of preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. Through its work with state and jurisdiction-based teams on patient safety bundle implementation, the program supports data-driven quality improvement. This paper details key aspects of the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health including patient safety bundles, technical assistance, implementation resource development, data support, and partnerships while providing an overview of the program's evolution, reach, impact, and future opportunities.

Understanding the barriers to integrating maternal and mental health at primary health care in Vietnam.

The prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders in Vietnam ranges from 16.9% to 39.9%, and substantial treatment gaps have been identified at all levels. This paper explores constraints to the integration of maternal and mental health services at the primary healthcare level and the implications for the health system's responsiveness to the needs and expectations of pregnant women with mental health conditions in Vietnam. As part of the RESPONSE project, a three-phase realist evaluation study, we present Phase 1 findings, which employed systematic and scoping literature reviews and qualitative data collection (focus groups and interviews) with key health system actors in Bac Giang province, Vietnam, to understand the barriers to maternal mental healthcare provision, utilization and integration strategies. A four-level framing of the barriers to integrating perinatal mental health services in Vietnam was used in reporting findings, which comprised individual, sociocultural, organizational and structural levels. At the sociocultural and structural levels, these barriers included cultural beliefs about the holistic notion of physical and mental health, stigma towards mental health, biomedical approach to healthcare services, absence of comprehensive mental health policy and a lack of mental health workforce. At the organizational level, there was an absence of clinical guidelines on the integration of mental health in routine antenatal visits, a shortage of staff and poor health facilities. Finally, at the provider level, a lack of knowledge and training on mental health was identified. The integration of mental health into routine antenatal visits at the primary care level has the potential help to reduce stigma towards mental health and improve health system responsiveness by providing services closer to the local level, offering prompt attention, better choice of services and better communication while ensuring privacy and confidentiality of services. This can improve the demand for mental health services and help reduce the delay of care-seeking.

Providers' Perspectives of a Culturally Adapted CenteringPregnancy Intervention for Marshallese Women in Arkansas.

OBJECTIVE: To explore health care providers' perspectives on the successes, challenges, and suggestions for future directions regarding the implementation of CenteringPregnancy for Marshallese women in Arkansas. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative design was used as an exploratory method. SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM: This study took place in northwest Arkansas. Arkansas is home to the largest Marshallese Pacific Islander population in the United States. Marshallese Pacific Islanders residing in the United States have disproportionally high rates of poor maternal and infant health outcomes, even compared to other Pacific Islanders. PARTICIPANTS: Seven CenteringPregnancy providers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS: Individual interviews were conducted from February to March of 2023. Data were managed using MAXQDA12 software. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Initial coding was completed to identify each data segment with short summations of emergent themes. The focused thematic codes that emerged were used to identify and develop the most salient thematic categories of the data, which became the thematic codes. RESULTS: Three overarching themes emerged: Implementation Successes, Challenges to Implementation, and Future Suggestions to Improve Implementation and Sustainability. Each theme had representative subthemes. CONCLUSION: Findings provide insight for future implementation of CenteringPregnancy for Marshallese and other Pacific Islander individuals.

The impact of funding models on the integration of Ontario midwives: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 30 years post legalisation and introduction, midwifery is still not optimally integrated within the health system of Canada's largest province, Ontario. Funding models have been identified as one of the main barriers. METHODS: Using a constructivist perspective, we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to examine how antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum funding arrangements in Ontario impact midwifery integration. We conceptualized optimal 'integration' as circumstances in which midwives' knowledge, skills, and model of care are broadly respected and fully utilized, interprofessional collaboration and referral support the best possible care for patients, and midwives feel a sense of belonging within hospitals and the greater health system. We collected data through semi-structured telephone interviews with midwives, obstetricians, family physicians, and nurses. The data was examined using thematic analysis. RESULTS: We interviewed 20 participants, including 5 obstetricians, 5 family physicians, 5 midwives, 4 nurses, and 1 policy expert. We found that while course-of-care-based midwifery funding is perceived to support high levels of midwifery client satisfaction and excellent clinical outcomes, it lacks flexibility. This limits opportunities for interprofessional collaboration and for midwives to use their knowledge and skills to respond to health system gaps. The physician fee-for-service funding model creates competition for births, has unintended consequences that limit midwives' scope and access to hospital privileges, and fails to appropriately compensate physician consultants, particularly as midwifery volumes grow. Siloing of midwifery funding from hospital funding further restricts innovative contributions from midwives to respond to community healthcare needs. CONCLUSIONS: Significant policy changes, such as adequate remuneration for consultants, possibly including salary-based physician funding; flexibility to compensate midwives for care beyond the existing course of care model; and a clearly articulated health human resource plan for sexual and reproductive care are needed to improve midwifery integration.

Impact of the EURO-PERISTAT Reports on obstetric management: a difference-in-regression-discontinuity analysis.

BACKGROUND: Population health monitoring, such as perinatal mortality and morbidity rankings published by the European Perinatal Health (EURO-PERISTAT) reports may influence obstetric care providers' decision-making and professional behaviour. We investigated short-term changes in the obstetric management of singleton term deliveries in the Netherlands following publication of the EURO-PERISTAT reports in 2003, 2008 and 2013. METHODS: We used a quasi-experimental difference-in-regression-discontinuity approach. National perinatal registry data (2001-15) was used to compare obstetric management at delivery in four time windows (1, 2, 3 and 5 months) surrounding publication of each EURO-PERISTAT report. RESULTS: The 2003 EURO-PERISTAT report was associated with higher relative risks (RRs) for an assisted vaginal delivery across all time windows [RR (95% CI): 1 month: 1.23 (1.05-1.45), 2 months: 1.15 (1.02-1.30), 3 months: 1.21 (1.09-1.33) and 5 months: 1.21 (1.11-1.31)]. The 2008 report was associated with lower RRs for an assisted vaginal delivery at the 3- and 5-month time windows [0.86 (0.77-0.96) and 0.88 (0.81-0.96)]. Publication of the 2013 report was associated with higher RRs for a planned caesarean section across all time windows [1 month: 1.23 (1.00-1.52), 2 months: 1.26 (1.09-1.45), 3 months: 1.26 (1.12-1.42) and 5 months: 1.19(1.09-1.31)] and lower RRs for an assisted vaginal delivery at the 2-, 3- and 5-month time windows [0.85 (0.73-0.98), 0.83 (0.74-0.94) and 0.88 (0.80-0.97)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that quasi-experimental study designs, such as the difference-in-regression-discontinuity approach, are useful to unravel the impact of population health monitoring on decision-making and professional behaviour of healthcare providers. A better understanding of the contribution of health monitoring to the behaviour of healthcare providers can help guide improvements within the (perinatal) healthcare chain.

Estudio cualitativo sobre la fragmentación y segmentación del sistema sanitario desde la experiencia de personas gestantes durante la pandemia por Covid -19 en La Plata / Qualitative study on the fragmentation and segmentation of the health system from the experience of pregnant people during the Covid-19 pandemic in La Plata

El sistema de salud argentino se ha constituido de manera compleja, caracterizándose por la segmentación y la fragmentación que dificultan la accesibilidad a los servicios de salud. Las personas gestantes constituyen una de las poblaciones de riesgo de padecer formas graves de enfermedad por coronavirus. Asimismo la Organización Panamericana de la Salud alertó sobre la interrupción de los servicios de atención de mujeres, especialmente al control prenatal y del recién nacido en la mitad de los países de las Américas. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo con el objetivo de describir y comprender las experiencias de accesibilidad al sistema de salud de personas que transitaron embarazo y/o parto durante la emergencia sanitaria en la Plata y Gran La Plata. Para ello se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas individuales a esta población. Los datos obtenidos fueron sometidos a un análisis de contenido temático, cuyas principales categorías de análisis fueron la segmentación y fragmentación del sistema de salud. Entre los resultados se destaca la importancia que tuvieron "las salitas" del primer nivel en el acceso a la atención de salud y el rol de las obstétricas en el intento de sortear los obstáculos que presenta la segmentación y la fragmentación del sistema sanitario. Se concluye que es menester pensar políticas para fortalecer el primer nivel de atención, la implementación de la estrategia de atención primaria de la salud en todos los niveles del sistema, al mismo tiempo que se requiere el fortalecimiento de una profesión autónoma y humanista, como lo es la obstetricia

The Argentine health system has been constituted in a complex manner, characterized by segmentation and fragmentation that hinder accessibility to health services. Pregnant women are one of the populations at risk of suffering severe forms of coronavirus disease. The Pan American Health Organization also warned about the interruption of women's health care services, especially prenatal and newborn care, in half the countries of the Americas. A qualitative study was carried out with the aim of describing and understanding the experiences of accessibility to the health system of people who experienced pregnancy and/or childbirth during the health emergency in La Plata and Gran La Plata. For this purpose, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with this population. The data obtained were subjected to a thematic content analysis, whose main categories of analysis were the segmentation and fragmentation of the health system. Among the results, the importance of the "salitas" of the first level in the access to health care and the role of obstetricians in the attempt to overcome the obstacles presented by the segmentation and fragmentation of the health system stand out. It is concluded that it is necessary to think of policies to strengthen the first level of care, the implementation of the primary health care strategy at all levels of the system, and at the same time the strengthening of an autonomous and humanistic profession, such as midwifery, is required

It was tough, but necessary. Organizational changes in a community based maternity care system during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative analysis in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2pandemic necessitated several changes in maternity care. We investigated maternity care providers' opinions on the positive and negative effects of these changes and on potential areas of improvement for future maternity care both in times of crisis and in regular maternity care. METHODS: We conducted nineteen semi-structured in-depth interviews with obstetricians, obstetric residents, community-based and hospital-based midwives and obstetric nurses. The interviews were thematically analysed using inductive Thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were generated: '(Dis)proportionate measures', 'A significant impact of COVID-19', 'Differing views on inter-provider cooperation', 'Reluctance to seek help' and 'Lessons learnt'. The Central Organizing Concept was: 'It was tough but necessary'. The majority of participants were positive about most of the measures that were taken and about their proportionality. These measures had a significant impact on maternity care providers, both mentally and on an organizational level. Most hospital-based care providers were positive about professional cooperation and communication, but some community-based midwives indicated that the cooperation between different midwifery care practices was suboptimal. Negative effects mentioned were a higher threshold for women to seek care, less partner involvement and perceived more fear among women and their partners, especially around birth. The most significant positive effect mentioned was increased use of eHealth tools. Recommendations for future care were to consider the necessity of prenatal and postnatal care more critically, to replace some face-to-face visits with eHealth and to provide more individualised care. CONCLUSION: Maternity care providers experienced measures and organizational changes during the first wave of the COVID19-pandemic as tough, but necessary. They believed that a more critical consideration of medically necessary care, increased use of e-health and more individualised care might contribute to making maternity care more sustainable during and after the pandemic.