Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

In this study, we test the effectiveness of an evidence-based model of group antenatal care by comparing it to individual (usual) antenatal care. We simultaneously identify the degree of implementation success and the contextual factors associated with success across 6 antenatal clinics in Blantyre District, Malawi. If results are negative, governments will avoid spending on ineffective care. Positive maternal, neonatal and HIV-related outcomes of group antenatal care will save lives, impact the cost and quality of antenatal care, and influence health policy as governments adopt this innovative model of care nationally.


Clinical Trial Description

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest rates of maternal and perinatal mortality and accounts for 2/3 of new HIV infections and 1/4 of preterm births. Antenatal (prenatal) care is the entry point into the health system for many women and offers a unique opportunity to provide life-saving monitoring. However, provider shortages, low quality of care and failure to attend all recommended visits mean that the potential benefits of antenatal care are not realized. There is an urgent need to test novel interventions to reduce health risks for mother and child. Group antenatal care is a transformative model of care that provides a positive pregnancy experience, uses provider time efficiently, and improves perinatal and HIV-related outcomes. Women in group antenatal care have 2-hour visits with the same provider in a group of 8-12 women at a similar stage of pregnancy. Women conduct self-assessments, briefly consult the midwife, and meet for 80-90 minutes of interactive health promotion enlivened by games and role-plays. Women form relationships with midwives and each other. In a US randomized clinical trial (RCT), group care improved prematurity rates, antenatal care attendance, satisfaction with care, breastfeeding practices, safer sex behaviors, and uptake of family planning. Our randomized pilot in Malawi and Tanzania had promising outcomes. More women in group care than in usual care completed ≥4 antenatal visits (94% vs 58%). Their partners were more likely to be tested for HIV during pregnancy (51% vs. 27%). We established that group antenatal care can be offered in a rigorous RCT with high fidelity despite provider shortages. The next step is an adequately powered effectiveness trial. Malawi is an especially appropriate site because it has the world's highest prematurity rate (18%) and high HIV prevalence (10% nationally, 16% at the study site). We use a hybrid design to simultaneously conduct an effectiveness RCT with individual-level randomization and examine implementation processes at 6 clinics in Blantyre District, Malawi. Aim 1 is to evaluate the effectiveness of group antenatal care through 6 months postpartum. We hypothesize that compared to usual care, women in group care and their infants will have less morbidity and mortality and more positive HIV prevention outcomes. We test Aim 1 hypotheses using multi-level hierarchical models using data from repeated surveys and health records. Aim 2 is to identify clinic-level degree of implementation success and contextual factors associated with success for each clinic and across clinics. Analyses use within and across-case matrices. This high-impact study addresses three global health priorities, maternal and infant mortality and HIV prevention, that affect all women of childbearing age in Malawi. The Ministry of Health strongly supports this project; results will help them decide whether to scale-up this innovative model of group care. Negative results will avoid spending on ineffective care. Positive results will provide evidence needed to adopt group antenatal care nationally and in other low-resource countries. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03673709
Study type Interventional
Source University of Illinois at Chicago
Contact
Status Active, not recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date July 5, 2019
Completion date May 31, 2024

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Active, not recruiting NCT05048550 - Babies in Glasses; a Feasibility Study. N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03655639 - Local Version of the Multi-center PREVENT Study Evaluating Cardio-respiratory Instability in Premature Infants
Enrolling by invitation NCT05542108 - Adding Motion to Contact: A New Model for Low-cost Family Centered Very-early Onset Intervention in Very Preterm-born Infants N/A
Completed NCT03680157 - Comparing Rater Reliability of Familiar Practitioners to Blinded Coders
Completed NCT03337659 - A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of FICare at 18 Months N/A
Completed NCT03649932 - Enteral L Citrulline Supplementation in Preterm Infants - Safety, Efficacy and Dosing Phase 1
Completed NCT03251729 - Cerclage On LOw Risk Singletons: Cervical Cerclage for Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Low Risk Singleton Pregnancies With Short Cervix Phase 4
Not yet recruiting NCT05039918 - Neonatal Experience of Social Touch N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT03418311 - Cervical Pessary Treatment for Prevention of s PTB in Twin Pregnancies on Children`s Long-Term Outcome N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT03418012 - Prevention of sPTB With Early Cervical Pessary Treatment in Women at High Risk for PTB N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT02880696 - Perception of Temporal Regularity in Tactile Stimulation: a Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy Study in Preterm Neonates N/A
Completed NCT02913495 - Vaginal Versus Intramuscular Progesterone for the Prevention of Recurrent Preterm Birth Phase 4
Completed NCT02952950 - Is it Possible to Prolong the Duration of Breastfeeding in Premature Infants? a Prospectivt Study N/A
Completed NCT02661360 - Effects of Swaddling on Infants During Feeding N/A
Completed NCT02879799 - Family Integrated Care (FICare) in Level II NICUs N/A
Completed NCT02743572 - Iron-fortified Parenteral Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Anemia in Premature Infants N/A
Completed NCT01352234 - Comparison of Doses of Acetylsalicylic Acid in Women With Previous History of Preeclampsia Phase 4
Completed NCT01163188 - Social Adjustment and Quality of Life After Very Preterm Birth N/A
Terminated NCT00675753 - Three Interacting Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and the Risk of Preterm Birth in Black Families N/A
Completed NCT00271115 - Kangaroo Holding and Maternal Stress N/A