Abstract
BackgroundGlobally, no qualitative studies have explored the perspectives of women and their partners about the integration of technology – and specifically diagnostic testing technologies – into antenatal care. The study objective was to describe the demand side for pregnancy-related diagnostic tests from the perspective of Peruvian consumers, including female and male community members, by engaging participants about their awareness of and care-seeking for pregnancy-related diagnostic tests and their preferred characteristics and testing conditions for pregnancy-related point-of-care diagnostic tests (POCTs).MethodsSixty-seven mothers and fathers of children under one from the peri-urban coast and the peri-urban and rural highlands and jungle of Peru participated in ten focus groups.ResultsParticipants think that pregnancy-related diagnostic tests are important and they and their fellow community members are committed to ensuring that pregnant women receive the tests they need. Participants expressed clear demands for pregnancy-related POCTs, including important characteristics for the tests themselves (certification, rapid, reliable results) and for test implementation (well-trained, personable good communicators as test administrators at well-equipped, convenient testing sites). Participants emphasized the importance of short waiting times and explained that many people have some ability to pay for POCTs, particularly if they are innovative, rapid or multiplex.ConclusionsEngaging future POCT users as consumers who are able to make key decisions about the development and implementation of pregnancy-related POCTs is valuable and informative.
Highlights
No qualitative studies have explored the perspectives of women and their partners about the integration of technology – and diagnostic testing technologies – into antenatal care
The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends anemia and syphilis screening as part of essential Antenatal care (ANC) and HIV testing as situational ANC, based on the community’s disease patterns [1,3]
Quispicanchis, in the Andean highlands in the Cusco region, has 30,000 people, 84% of whom live in rural areas
Summary
No qualitative studies have explored the perspectives of women and their partners about the integration of technology – and diagnostic testing technologies – into antenatal care. Antenatal care (ANC) is key to improving maternal and newborn health around the globe [1]. ANC represents an opportunity to link pregnant women to health services, which are especially important for institutional delivery and postpartum care for women and their newborns [1]. ANC should be offered in a standardized manner and provide a package of interventions that includes screening and treatment for key health conditions. Screening and treatment for certain conditions have been proven effective, e.g. for anemia, syphilis and HIV. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends anemia and syphilis screening as part of essential ANC and HIV testing as situational ANC, based on the community’s disease patterns [1,3]. National guidelines recommend two ANC schemes: optimal care, with initiation of ANC as early as possible during pregnancy, with monthly visits up to 32 weeks of gestation, biweekly visits in weeks 32–36 and weekly visits from week 37 forward; and minimum necessary care, with two visits prior to 22 weeks, visit 3 at 22–24 weeks, visit 4
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