Blended Tele-mentoring Support for Strengthening Antenatal Care by Private Health care Facilities: FOGSI VISTRIT INITIATIVE.

Abstract

The objective of the present initiative was to build capacity of health care providers in private sector along with standardisation of care during antenatal period for common antenatal problems of GDM and iron deficiency anaemia in private sector. A pilot project for all levels of health care providers including doctors, nurses, counsellors and laboratory technicians of 34 private facilities in six districts of Jharkhand was planned. Training modules for GDM and anaemia based on government of India guidelines were developed. End line evaluation included data collection and descriptive analysis of quantitative data quality scores from assessment standards on GDM and anaemia in pregnancy. Knowledge assessment of health care providers and doctors through baseline and end line knowledge assessment survey questionnaire showed that 100% health care providers who were trained scored 85% or more in knowledge assessment questionnaires as seen by baseline and end line questionnaire results. All project hospitals (n = 34) in Jharkhand achieved quality standards of care in intervention period for gestational diabetes mellitus and anaemia in pregnancy. They achieved total score more than 80% and exceeded target of 80% of the quality standards. A systematic strengthening of private health care facilities through a blended tele-mentoring and onsite support is possible. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13224-023-01866-5.