Encontro com Especialistas - Projetos arquitetônicos da Rede Cegonha: ambiência em unidades neonatais

Encontro com as especialistas Thalita Lellice Morais Campelo (arquiteta) e Zeni Lamy (médica neonatologista).

Evaluation of the implementation of human milk supply for prematures in a neonatal intensive care unit / Avaliação da implantação do fornecimento de leite humano para prematuros em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal

Abstract Objectives: to assess the supply of human milk exclusively to prematures in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the influence of external and organizational contexts on the degree of implementation of this intervention. Methods: this is an implementation evaluation with analysis of the external context (sociodemographic situation of mothers, support network and industry marketing) and organizational context (belonging to the hospital unit). To define the degree of implementation, the Analysis and Judgment Matrix was used, considering the compliance dimension, and the availability and technical-scientific quality sub-dimensions. The data used were obtained through interviews, semi-structured questionnaires and analysis of documents from the institution. Results: the degree of implementation of the intervention was 80.74%, proving to be satisfactory, with emphasis on the technical-scientific quality sub-dimension. Conclusions: the success in the supply of human milk is linked to public policies, the support and guidance offered to mothers in the hospital unit, presence of a support network, knowledge of mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding, adequate infrastructure and availability of supplies. The prematures being hospitalized in a child-friendly hospital contributed to the implementation of the intervention.

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar o fornecimento de leite humano de forma exclusiva aos prematuros em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal e a influência dos contextos externo e organizacional no grau de implantação dessa intervenção. Métodos: trata-se de uma avaliação de implantação com análise dos contextos externo (situação sociodemográfico das mães, rede de apoio e marketing da indústria) e organizacional (pertencente à unidade hospitalar). Para definir o grau de implantação, foi utilizada a Matriz de Análise e Julgamento, considerando a dimensão conformidade, e as subdimensões disponibilidade e qualidade técnico-científica. Os dados utilizados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas, questionários semiestruturados e análise de documentos da instituição. Resultados: o grau de implantação da intervenção foi de 80,74%, mostrando-se satisfatório, com destaque para a subdimensão qualidade técnico-científica. Conclusões: o sucesso no fornecimento de leite humano está atrelado às políticas públicas, ao apoio e orientações oferecidos às mães na unidade hospitalar, disponibilidade de rede de apoio, conhecimento das mães acerca dos benefícios do aleitamento materno, infraestrutura adequada e disponibilidade de insumos. Os prematuros estarem internados em hospital amigo da criança contribuiu para a implantação da intervenção.

Analysis of the structural adequacy of maternity hospitals in Piauí, Brazil, 2018-2019 / Análise da adequação estrutural das maternidades do Piauí, Brasil, 2018-2019

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the structure and adequacy of maternal healthcare facilities in Piauí. Methods: cross-sectional study in 26 hospitals with more than 200 births/year between 2018-2019. The structure was assessed by direct observation and interview with manager, in four domains: physical aspects, human resources, equipment, and drugs. Fisher's chi-square/exact tests were used to assess differences in adequacy of structure. Results: only 46.2% of the maternal healthcare facilities had pre-delivery, parturition and immediate post-partum room. Pediatricians (73.1%) and anesthesiologists (61.5%) were the least present professionals on-duty regime. Regarding drugs, magnesium sulfate and oxytocin were observed in 76.9% of hospitals. Overall adequacy was 23.1%, being higher in maternal healthcare facilities in the capital (p=0.034) and in private ones (p=0.031). Conclusions: Data show inequalities in the structure of maternity hospitals of the state. The absence of health professionals, essential drugs, and appropriate physical structure can expose women and newborns to unnecessary and avoidable risks.

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar a estrutura e adequação das maternidades do Piauí. Métodos: estudo transversal em 26 hospitais com mais de 200 partos/ano entre 2018 e 2019. A estrutura foi avaliada por observação direta e entrevista com gestor, em quatro domínios: aspectos físicos, recursos humanos, equipamentos e medicamentos. Foram empregados os testes do quiquadrado/exato de Fisher para avaliar diferenças na adequação da estrutura. Resultados: apenas 46,2% das maternidades tinham quarto pré-parto, parto e puerpério. Pediatras (73,1%) e anestesistas (61,5%) foram os profissionais menos presentes em regime de plantão. Dos medicamentes, sulfato de magnésio e ocitocina foram observados em 76,9% dos hospitais. A adequação global foi de 23,1%, sendo maior em maternidades da capital (p=0,034) e privadas (p=0,031) Conclusões: os dados exibem desigualdades na estrutura das maternidades do estado. A ausência de profissionais de saúde, medicamentos essenciais e estrutura física apropriada pode expor mulheres e recém-nascidos a riscos desnecessários e evitáveis.

Implementation of postpartum care for women in primary care in the South of Brazil / Implantação da assistência pós-parto às mulheres na atenção primária no Sul do Brasil

Abstract Objectives: to determine the implementation level and analyze favorable and unfavorable aspects of operationalization women's care in postpartum period in primary care. Methods: evaluation study of the normative type, performed through a multiple case study in three cities in the South States in Brazil, with a collection of primary and secondary data. The implementation level (classification: satisfactory, partial, incipient, and critical) was determined by the Matriz de Análise e Julgamento (Analysis and Judgment Matrix), consisted of the dimensions of management and execution, and the respective sub-dimensions. Thematic and imbricated analysis of the cases were performed. Results: postpartum care was incipient in the management dimension for all the cases, with a higher implementation level for the "care coordination and intersectorality mechanisms" (partial) sub-dimension. In the execution dimension in case 3 was partially implemented, and the others were incipient. The breastfeeding sub-dimension had a higher implementation level for all the cases, and the longitudinality, mental health and reproductive planning sub-dimensions had a lower implementation level. Care in relation to domestic violence and mental health occurred unsystematically, and reproductive planning focused on hormonal contraceptive methods. Conclusion: management does not provide ideal conditions for healthcare professionals' performance; and, in the execution dimension are not incorporated as the main necessity in the health care practice in women's health.

Resumo Objetivos: determinar o grau de implantação e analisar aspectos favoráveis e desfavoráveis à operacionalização da assistência às mulheres no pós-parto na atenção primária. Métodos: estudo avaliativo do tipo normativo, realizado por estudo de casos múltiplos em três municípios dos Estados do Sul/Brasil, com coleta de dados primários e secundários. O grau de implantação (classificação: satisfatório, parcial, incipiente e crítico) foi determinado pela Matriz de Análise e Julgamento composta pelas dimensões gestão e execução, e respectivas subdimensões. Realizou-se análise temática e imbricada dos Casos. Resultados: a assistência pós-parto estava com implantação incipiente na dimensão gestão para todos os Casos, com maior grau de implantação para a subdimensão "mecanismos para coordenação do cuidado e intersetorialidade" (parcial). Na dimensão execução o Caso 3 teve implantação parcial, e os demais incipiente. A subdimensão aleitamento materno teve maior grau de implantação para todos os Casos, e as subdimensões longitudinalidade, saúde mental e planejamento reprodutivo tiveram menor grau de implantação. A assistência a violência doméstica e saúde mental ocorreram de forma assistemática, e o planejamento reprodutivo focou em métodos contraceptivos hormonais. Conclusão: a gestão não oportuniza condições ideais para atuação dos profissionais da assistência, e na dimensão execução não são incorporadas as principais necessidades de saúde das mulheres na prática assistencial.

Prevalence of post-partum anemia and associated factors among women attending public primary health care facilities: An institutional based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Severe post-partum anemia is an important cause of maternal deaths and severe morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, little information is available to guide health care professionals in ensuring good health of women after delivery. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of post-partum anemia and associated factors among women attending public primary health care facilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional based cross sectional study was carried out. Women in post-partum period (the period from child birth to six weeks after delivery) attending the public primary health care facilities from October to December 2019 for children vaccination were recruited. The prick method was used to obtain blood for haemoglobin estimation. Post-partum anemia was defined as a haemoglobin level of less than 11g/dl. Participants found anaemic were asked to undertake malaria and helminths parasites tests from blood and stool samples respectively. The samples were examined by an experienced laboratory scientist on study sites according to the Tanzania national standard for medical laboratories protocols. RESULTS: A total of 424 women were enrolled with mean age of 27.8 years (SD 5.93). Most of the participants 234(55.2%) had primary education and nearly half 198(46.7%) of them were house wives. The overall prevalence of post-partum anemia was 145(34.2%). Among the anaemic participants, 34(23.5%) had positive blood slide for malaria parasite while 15(10.3%) had positive test for stool helminths infection. Delivery by vaginal route and low parity were protective against post-partum anemia (p<0.001).Other factors that were associated with post-partum anemia included absence of a marital partner (p<0.001) and inter pregnancy interval of less than two years (p<0.001). The risk of post-partum anemia in women with less than two years interval between their last two pregnancies was about 18 times more as compared to women with more than two years interval between their last two pregnancies, (COR = 18; 95% CI 8.617-38.617).Women without marital partners were 10 times more likely to get anemia as compared to married women, (COR = 10; 01.910-54.935). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anaemia among post-partum women found in this study points to a situation of public health problem according to WHO cut-off values for the public health significance of anaemia. Inter pregnancy interval of less than two years and absence of a marital partner were associated with post-partum anemia while delivery by vaginal route and low parity were protective against post-partum anemia. Strategies should therefore be put in place to encourage thorough health education and promotion programs among both pregnant and post-partum women.

Exploring health provider's knowledge on the home-based maternal and neonatal health care package in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Rwanda implemented post-natal care home visits by maternal community health workers (M-CHWs) in charge of maternal and newborn health care in 2010 as a component of a home-based maternal and neonatal health care package (HB-MNHCP), this being a complementary strategy to facility-based postnatal care to improve survival. The country has not met its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 target of less than 70 maternal mortalities per 100,000 live births and less than 12 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. This study therefore aimed to establish the knowledge of the health providers, providing HB-MNHC services as part of their antenatal, delivery and postnatal care program, specifically the M-CHWs services. METHODS: The cross-sectional descriptive study included 79 purposively sampled health care providers who were directly involved in the various components of the HB-MNHCP, namely: professional nurses, midwives, M-CHW, social workers, supervisors and data managers. The Kibogora, Muhima and Nyamata District Hospitals and two rural, semi-urban and urban health facility were included. Data was collected using questionnaires from April to July 2018. This study followed the STROBE checklist form: Cross -sectional studies. RESULTS: Overall, 88.6% (n=70/79) of participants knew about the M-CHW three home visits scheduled during pregnancy, 73.4% (n=58/79) about the three postnatal home visits after birth when the weight was normal, and 64.6% (n=51/79) about the five PNC home visits for low birth weights. Most (97.5%, n=77/79) knew that the mother and newborn should be screened during the same M-CHW home visits, and 87.2% (n= 68/79) were aware of the seven postnatal core competencies of delivering key maternal and newborn interventions during PNC home visits. CONCLUSIONS: There were varying levels of knowledge among the HB-MNHCP staff, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and training to ensure that the correct information is provided to the mothers throughout the antenatal and postnatal periods. While most of the M-CHWs appear to have had the correct knowledge, their executing of some activities needs to be monitored to ensure that they provide the required services, as this is an important step in lowering the maternal and infant mortality and enabling Rwanda to meet its SDG 3. Home visits by the M-CHWs could increase referrals and reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

Adapting obstetric and neonatal services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The provision of care to pregnant persons and neonates must continue through pandemics. To maintain quality of care, while minimizing physical contact during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic, hospitals and international organizations issued recommendations on maternity and neonatal care delivery and restructuring of clinical and academic services. Early in the pandemic, recommendations relied on expert opinion, and offered a one-size-fits-all set of guidelines. Our aim was to examine these recommendations and provide the rationale and context to guide clinicians, administrators, educators, and researchers, on how to adapt maternity and neonatal services during the pandemic, regardless of jurisdiction. METHOD: Our initial database search used Medical subject headings and free-text search terms related to coronavirus infections, pregnancy and neonatology, and summarized relevant recommendations from international society guidelines. Subsequent targeted searches to December 30, 2020, included relevant publications in general medical and obstetric journals, and updated society recommendations. RESULTS: We identified 846 titles and abstracts, of which 105 English-language publications fulfilled eligibility criteria and were included in our study. A multidisciplinary team representing clinicians from various disciplines, academics, administrators and training program directors critically appraised the literature to collate recommendations by multiple jurisdictions, including a quaternary care Canadian hospital, to provide context and rationale for viable options. INTERPRETATION: There are different schools of thought regarding effective practices in obstetric and neonatal services. Our critical review presents the rationale to effectively modify services, based on the phase of the pandemic, the prevalence of infection in the population, and resource availability.

Gestão do cuidado de Enfermagem para a qualidade da assistência pré-natal na Atenção Primária à Saúde / Gestión del cuidado de Enfermería para la calidad de la atención prenatal en Atención Primaria de Salud / Nursing care management for the quality of prenatal care in Primary Health Care

Resumo Objetivo compreender o significado da gestão do cuidado de Enfermagem para a qualidade da assistência pré-natal na visão de enfermeiras da Atenção Primária à Saúde. Método pesquisa qualitativa desenvolvida com a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados e o pensamento complexo de Edgar Morin. Realizaram-se observações participantes e entrevistas semiestruturadas individuais com 11 enfermeiras da atenção primária. Análise dos dados: codificação aberta, axial e seletiva/integração e organização pelo software NVIVO®. Resultados o fenômeno central "Promovendo a gestão do cuidado de Enfermagem na Atenção Primária à Saúde" evidenciou que a gestão do cuidado de Enfermagem realizada pelas enfermeiras contribui para promover a autonomia das gestantes, a qualidade dos cuidados, o protagonismo e o empoderamento maternos no processo de gestar, parir, nascer e amamentar, envolvendo a participação da família/rede de apoio nos cuidados. Considerações finais e implicações para a prática a gestão do cuidado realizada pelas enfermeiras busca acolher as singularidades das gestantes/famílias e promover o cuidado singular, multidimensional, contínuo, vigilante, sistematizado e integrado, valorizando a subjetividade e o protagonismo da mulher, pautado nos princípios da autonomia e empoderamento materno. Recomendam-se o dimensionamento de pessoal adequado, a realização das ações de saúde de forma integrada/em rede, a comunicação efetiva entre os diferentes níveis de atenção e a preparação intensificada para o parto fisiológico, o puerpério e a amamentação.

Resumen Objetivo comprender el significado de la gestión del cuidado de Enfermería para la calidad de la atención prenatal en la perspectiva del enfermero de la Atención Primaria de Salud. Método investigación cualitativa desarrollada con la Teoría Fundamentada en Datos y el pensamiento complejo de Edgar Morin. Se realizaron observaciones de los participantes y entrevistas semiestructuradas individuales con 11 enfermeras de atención primaria. Análisis de datos: codificación abierta, axial y selectiva/integración y organización mediante el software NVIVO®. Resultados el fenómeno central "Promoción de la gestión de la atención de Enfermería en la Atención Primaria de Salud" mostró que la gestión de la atención de Enfermería realizada por enfermeras contribuye a promover la autonomía de la gestante, la calidad de la atención, el protagonismo y el empoderamiento materno en el proceso de gestar, parir, nacer y amamantar, involucrando la participación de la familia / red de apoyo en el cuidado. Consideraciones finales e implicaciones para la práctica la gestión del cuidado que realizan las enfermeras busca acoger las singularidades de la gestante / familia y promover una atención singular, multidimensional, continua, vigilante, sistematizada e integrada, valorando la subjetividad y el protagonismo de la mujer, basada en principios de autonomía y empoderamiento materno. Se recomienda dimensionar personal adecuado, realizar acciones de salud de manera integrada / en red, la comunicación efectiva entre los diferentes niveles de atención y la preparación intensificada para el parto fisiológico, el puerperio y la lactancia materna.

Abstract Objective to understand the meaning of Nursing care management for the quality of prenatal care in the view of Primary Health Care nurses. Method a qualitative research developed with Grounded Theory and Edgar Morin's complex thinking. Participant observations and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 primary care nurses. Data analysis: open, axial and selective coding/integration and organization by NVIVO® software. Results the central phenomenon "Promoting Nursing care management in Primary Health Care" showed that Nursing care management performed by nurses contributes to promote the autonomy of pregnant women, the quality of care, the protagonism and empowerment of mothers in the process of pregnancy, delivery, birth and breastfeeding, involving the participation of the family/support network in care. Final considerations and implications for the practice care management performed by nurses seeks to accommodate the singularities of pregnant women/families and promote singular, multidimensional, continuous, vigilant, systematized and integrated care, valuing the subjectivity and the protagonism of women, based on the principles of maternal autonomy and empowerment. It is recommended the adequate dimensioning of personnel, the performance of health actions in an integrated/networked way, the effective communication between the different levels of care, and the intensified preparation for the physiological birth, the puerperium, and breastfeeding.

Associations between postpartum depression and assistance with household tasks and childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from American mothers.

BACKGROUND: The early postpartum period is recognized cross-culturally as being important for recovery, with new parents receiving increased levels of community support. However, COVID-19-related lockdown measures may have disrupted these support systems, with possible implications for mental health. Here, we use a cross-sectional analysis among individuals who gave birth at different stages of the pandemic to test (i) if instrumental support access in the form of help with household tasks, newborn care, and care for older children has varied temporally across the pandemic, and (ii) whether access to these forms of instrumental support is associated with lower postpartum depression scores. METHODS: This study used data from the COVID-19 And Reproductive Effects (CARE) study, an online survey of pregnant persons in the United States. Participants completed postnatal surveys between April 30 - November 18, 2020 (n = 971). Logistic regression analysis tested whether birth timing during the pandemic was associated with odds of reported sustained instrumental support. Linear regression analyses assessed whether instrumental support was associated with lower depression scores as measured via the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression survey. RESULTS: Participants who gave birth later in the pandemic were more likely to report that the pandemic had not affected the help they received with household work and newborn care (p < 0.001), while access to childcare for older children appeared to vary non-linearly throughout the pandemic. Additionally, respondents who reported that the pandemic had not impacted their childcare access or help received around the house displayed significantly lower depression scores compared to participants who reported pandemic-related disruptions to these support types (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The maintenance of postpartum instrumental support during the pandemic appears to be associated with better maternal mental health. Healthcare providers should therefore consider disrupted support systems as a risk factor for postpartum depression and ask patients how the pandemic has affected support access. Policymakers seeking to improve parental wellbeing should design strategies that reduce disease transmission, while facilitating safe interactions within immediate social networks (e.g., through investment in COVID-19 testing and contact tracing). Cumulatively, postpartum instrumental support represents a potential tool to protect against depression, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

'It was hell in the community': a qualitative study of maternal and child health care during health care worker strikes in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Health care workers in Kenya have launched major strikes in the public health sector in the past decade but the impact of strikes on health systems is under-explored. We conducted a qualitative study to investigate maternal and child health care and services during nationwide strikes by health care workers in 2017 from the perspective of pregnant women, community health volunteers (CHVs), and health facility managers. METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) with three populations: women who were pregnant in 2017, CHVs, and health facility managers. Women who were pregnant in 2017 were part of a previous study. All participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a single County in western Kenya. Interviews and FGDs were conducted in English or Kiswahili using semi-structured guides that probed women's pregnancy experiences and maternal and child health services in 2017. Interviews and FGDs were audio-recorded, translated, and transcribed. Content analysis followed a thematic framework approach using deductive and inductive approaches. RESULTS: Forty-three women and 22 CHVs participated in 4 FGDs and 3 FGDs, respectively, and 8 health facility managers participated in interviews. CHVs and health facility managers were majority female (80%). Participants reported that strikes by health care workers significantly impacted the availability and quality of maternal and child health services in 2017 and had indirect economic effects due to households paying for services in the private sector. Participants felt it was the poor, particularly poor women, who were most affected since they were more likely to rely on public services, while CHVs highlighted their own poor working conditions in response to strikes by physicians and nurses. Strikes strained relationships and trust between communities and the health system that were identified as essential to maternal and child health care. CONCLUSION: We found that the impacts of strikes by health care workers in 2017 extended beyond negative health and economic effects and exacerbated fundamental inequities in the health system. While this study was conducted in one County, our findings suggest several potential avenues for strengthening maternal and child health care in Kenya that were highlighted by nationwide strikes in 2017.

Delivery channels and socioeconomic inequalities in coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health interventions: analysis of 36 cross-sectional surveys in low-income and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Global reports have described inequalities in coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) interventions, but little is known about how socioeconomic inequality in intervention coverage varies across multiple low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to assess the association between wealth-related inequalities in coverage of RMNCH interventions. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we identified publicly available Demographic Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys from LMICs containing information on household characteristics, reproductive health, women's and children's health, nutrition, and mortality. We identified the most recent survey from the period 2010-19 for 36 countries that contained data for our preselected set of 18 RMNCH interventions. 21 countries also had information on two common malaria interventions. We classified interventions into four groups according to their predominant delivery channels: health facility based, community based, environmental, and culturally driven (including breastfeeding practices). Within each country, we derived wealth quintiles from information on household asset indices. We studied two summary measures of within-country wealth-related inequality: absolute inequalities (akin to coverage differences among children from wealthy and poor households) using the slope index of inequality (SII), and relative inequalities (akin to the ratio of coverage levels for wealthy and poor children) using the concentration index (CIX). Pro-poor inequalities are present when intervention coverage decreased with increasing household wealth, and pro-rich inequalities are present when intervention coverage increased as household wealth increased. FINDINGS: Across the 36 LMICs included in our analyses, coverage of most interventions had pro-rich patterns in most countries, except for two breastfeeding indicators that mostly had higher coverage among poor women, children and households than wealthy women, children, and households. Environmental interventions were the most unequal, particularly use of clean fuels, which had median levels of SII of 48·8 (8·6-85·7) and CIX of 67·0 (45·0-85·8). Interventions primarily delivered in health facilities-namely institutional childbirth (median SII 46·7 [23·1-63·3] and CIX 11·4 [4·5-23·4]) and antenatal care (median SII 26·7 [17·0-47·2] and CIX 10·0 [4·2-17·1])-also usually had pro-rich patterns. By comparison, primarily community-based interventions, including those against malaria, were more equitably distributed-eg, oral rehydration therapy (median SII 9·4 [2·9-19·0] and CIX 3·4 [1·3-25·0]) and polio immunisation (SII 12·1 [2·3-25·0] and CIX 3·1 [0·5-7·1]). Differences across the four types of delivery channels in terms of both inequality indices were significant (SII p=0·0052; CIX p=0·0048). INTERPRETATION: Interventions that are often delivered at community level are usually more equitably distributed than those primarily delivered in fixed facilities or those that require changes in the home environment. Policy makers need to learn from community delivery channels to promote more equitable access to all RMNCH interventions. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. TRANSLATIONS: For the French, Portuguese and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Changes in attitudes and behaviors supportive of maternal and newborn health in Ethiopia: an evaluative case study.

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia's high neonatal mortality rate led to the government's 2013 introduction of Community-Based Newborn Care (CBNC) to bring critical prevention and treatment interventions closer to communities in need. However, complex behaviors that are deeply embedded in social and cultural norms continue to prevent women and newborns from getting the care they need. A demand creation strategy was designed to create an enabling environment to support appropriate maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) behaviors and CBNC. We explored the extent to which attitudes and behaviors during the prenatal and perinatal periods varied by the implementation strength of the Demand Creation Strategy for MNCH-CBNC. METHODS: Using an embedded, multiple case study design, we purposively selected four kebeles (villages) from two districts with different levels of implementation strength of demand creation activities. We collected information from a total of 150 key stakeholders across kebeles using multiple qualitative methods including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and illness narratives; sessions were transcribed into English and coded using NVivo 10.0. We developed case reports for each kebele and a final cross-case report to compare results from high and low implementation strength kebeles. RESULTS: We found that five MNCH attitudes and behaviors varied by implementation strength. In high implementation strength kebeles women felt more comfortable disclosing their pregnancy early, women sought antenatal care (ANC) in the first trimester, families did not have fatalistic ideas about newborn survival, mothers sought care for sick newborns in a timely manner, and newborns received care at the health facility in less than an hour. We also found changes across all kebeles that did not vary by implementation strength, including male engagement during pregnancy and a preference for giving birth at a health facility. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that a demand creation approach-combining participatory approaches with community empowering strategies-can promote shifts in behaviors and attitudes to support the health of mothers and newborns, including use of MNCH services. Future studies need to consider the most efficient level of intervention intensity to make the greatest impact on MNCH attitudes and behaviors.

Postnatal care

This guideline covers the routine postnatal care that women and their babies should receive in the first 8 weeks after the birth. It includes the organisation and delivery of postnatal care, identifying and managing common and serious health problems in women and their babies, how to help parents form strong relationships with their babies, and baby feeding. The recommendations on emotional attachment and baby feeding also cover the antenatal period. The guideline uses the terms 'woman' or 'mother' throughout. These should be taken to include people who do not identify as women but are pregnant or have given birth. Similarly, where the term 'parents' is used, this should be taken to include anyone who has main responsibility for caring for a baby. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has produced guidance on COVID-19 and postnatal care for all midwifery and obstetric services.

Live Q&A on pregnancy and childbirth during COVID-19. Ask your questions!

Pregnant women or recently pregnant women who are older, overweight, and have pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes seem to have an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. When pregnant women develop severe disease, they also seem to more often require care in intensive care units than non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Due to changes in their bodies and immune systems, we know that pregnant women can be badly affected by some respiratory infections. It is therefore important that they take precautions to protect themselves against COVID-19, and report possible symptoms (including fever, cough or difficulty in breathing) to their healthcare provider. WHO will continue to review and update its information and advice as more evidence becomes available.

Promoting Children's Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral (MEB) Health in All Public Systems, Post-COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) health problems of children and adolescents in the United States (U.S.). A collective and coordinated national economic and social reconstruction effort aimed at shoring up services to promote children's MEB, like the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Europe post-World War II, has been proposed to buttress against the expected retrenchment. The plan prioritizes children's well-being as a social objective. We propose strategically reconstructing the public safety-net systems serving youth, including early education, maternal and child health, child welfare, corrections, and mental health. That plan called for a concentrated focus on coalition-building and contracting by state mental health systems to establish a foundation for an improved health system. This paper offers a complementary set of suggestions for the four non-mental health systems mentioned above by recommending actionable steps based on scientific evidence to support improved services for children at risk for MEB problems. For each system we describe examples of evidence-informed services, policies or programs that (1) prevent disabilities and promote health, (2) protect and preserve families and neighborhoods, and (3) provide quality care. Prioritizing the promotion of children's MEB health by all state systems can shape U.S. children's health and well-being for generations to come.

Explaining the impact of mHealth on maternal and child health care in low- and middle-income countries: a realist synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing global application of mobile health (mHealth) technology in maternal and child health, contextual factors, and mechanisms by which interventional outcomes are generated, have not been subjected to a systematic examination. In this study, we sought to uncover context, mechanisms, and outcome elements of various mHealth interventions based on implementation and evaluation studies to formulate theories or models explicating how mHealth interventions work (or not) both for health care providers and for pregnant women and mothers. METHOD: We undertook a realist synthesis. An electronic search of five online databases (PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus, Academic Search Premier and Health Systems Evidence) was performed. Using appropriate Boolean phrases terms and selection procedures, 32 articles were identified. A theory-driven approach, narrative synthesis, was applied to synthesize the data. Thematic content analysis was used to delineate elements of the intervention, including its context, actors, mechanisms, and outcomes. Abduction and retroduction were applied using a realist evaluation heuristic tool to formulate generative theories. RESULTS: We formulated two configurational models illustrating how and why mHealth impacts implementation and uptake of maternal and child health care. Implementation-related mechanisms include buy-in from health care providers, perceived support of health care providers' motivation and perceived ease of use and usefulness. These mechanisms are influenced by adaptive health system conditions including organization, resource availability, policy implementation dynamics, experience with technology, network infrastructure and connectivity. For pregnant women and mothers, mechanisms that trigger mHealth use and consequently uptake of maternal and child health care include perceived satisfaction, motivation and positive psychological support. Information overload was identified as a potential negative mechanism impacting the uptake of maternal and child health care. These mechanisms are influenced by health system conditions, socio-cultural characteristics, socio-economic and demographics characteristics, network infrastructure and connectivity and awareness. CONCLUSION: Models developed in this study provide a detailed understanding of implementation and uptake of mHealth interventions and how and why they impact maternal and child health care in low- and middle-income countries. These models provide a foundation for the 'white box' of theory-driven evaluation of mHealth interventions and can improve rollout and implementation where required.

Maternal and neonatal health care worker well-being and patient safety climate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To assess maternal and neonatal healthcare workers (HCWs) perspectives on well-being and patient safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: Anonymous survey of HCW well-being, burnout, and patient safety over the prior conducted in June 2020. Results were analyzed by job position and burnout status. RESULT: We analyzed 288 fully completed surveys. In total, 66% of respondents reported symptoms of burnout and 73% felt burnout among their co-workers had significantly increased. Workplace strategies to address HCW well-being were judged by 34% as sufficient. HCWs who were "burned out" reported significantly worse well-being and patient safety attributes. Compared to physicians, nurses reported higher rates of unprofessional behavior (37% vs. 14%, p = 0.027) and difficulty focusing on work (59% vs. 36%, p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, HCW well-being was substantially compromised, with negative ramifications for patient safety.