The effect of a clinical decision-making mHealth support system on maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Ghana: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the world's highest maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and has shown the slowest progress in reducing them. In addition, there is substantial inequality in terms of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the region. Geospatial studies can help prioritize scarce resources by pinpointing priority areas for implementation. This systematic review was conducted to explore the application of geospatial analysis to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in SSA.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was performed. All observational and qualitative studies that reported on maternal or neonatal health outcomes were included if they used a spatial analysis technique and were conducted in a SSA country. After removing duplicates, two reviewers independently reviewed each study's abstract and full text for inclusion. Furthermore, the quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. Finally, due to the heterogeneity of studies, narrative synthesis was used to summarize the main findings, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was strictly followed to report the review results. A total of 56 studies were included in the review.ResultsWe found that geospatial analysis was used to identify inequalities in maternal and neonatal morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization and to identify gaps in the availability and geographic accessibility of maternal health facilities. In addition, we identified a few studies that used geospatial analysis for modelling intervention areas. We also detected challenges and shortcomings, such as unrealistic assumptions used by geospatial models and a shortage of reliable, up-to-date, small-scale georeferenced data.ConclusionsThe use of geospatial analysis for maternal and neonatal health in SSA is still limited, and more detailed spatial data are required to exploit the potential of geospatial technologies fully.

BackgroundDeveloping and maintaining resilient health systems in low-resource settings like Ghana requires innovative approaches that adapt technology to context to improve health outcomes. One such innovation was a mobile health (mHealth) clinical decision-making support system (mCDMSS) that utilized text messaging (short message service, SMS) of standard emergency maternal and neonatal protocols via an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) on request of the health care providers. This mCDMSS was implemented in a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) in the Eastern Region of Ghana.ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the pattern of requests made to the USSD by health workers (HWs). We assessed the relationship between requests made to the USSD and types of maternal and neonatal morbidities reported in health facilities (HFs).MethodsFor clusters in the intervention arm of the CRCT, all requests to the USSD during the 18-month intervention period were extracted from a remote server, and maternal and neonatal health outcomes of interest were obtained from the District Health Information System of Ghana. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the proportion and type of requests made to the USSD by cluster, facility type, and location; whether phones accessing the intervention were shared facility phones or individual-use phones (type-of-phone); or whether protocols were accessed during the day or at night (time-of-day). Trends in requests made were analyzed over 3 6-month periods. The relationship between requests made and the number of cases reported in HFs was assessed using Spearman correlation.ResultsIn total, 5329 requests from 72 (97%) participating HFs were made to the intervention. The average number of requests made per cluster was 667. Requests declined from the first to the third 6-month period (44.96% [2396/5329], 39.82% [2122/5329], and 15.22% [811/5329], respectively). Maternal conditions accounted for the majority of requests made (66.35% [3536/5329]). The most frequently accessed maternal conditions were postpartum hemorrhage (25.23% [892/3536]), other conditions (17.82% [630/3536]), and hypertension (16.49% [583/3536]), whereas the most frequently accessed neonatal conditions were prematurity (20.08% [360/1793]), sepsis (15.45% [277/1793]), and resuscitation (13.78% [247/1793]). Requests made to the mCDMSS varied significantly by cluster, type of request (maternal or neonatal), facility type and its location, type-of-phone, and time-of-day at 6-month interval (P<.001 for each variable). Trends in maternal and neonatal requests showed varying significance over each 6-month interval. Only asphyxia and sepsis cases showed significant correlations with the number of requests made (r=0.44 and r=0.79; P<.001 and P=.03, respectively).ConclusionsThere were variations in the pattern of requests made to the mCDMSS over time. Detailed information regarding the use of the mCDMSS provides insight into the information needs of HWs for decision-making and an opportunity to focus support for HW training and ultimately improved maternal and neonatal health.

In Lebanon, disadvantaged pregnant women show poor maternal outcomes due to limited access to antenatal care (ANC) and a strained health care system, compounded by ongoing conflicts and a significant refugee population. Despite substantial efforts to improve maternal health, the provision of maternal health services in primary health care centers (PHCs) still faces significant challenges. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, particularly those using artificial intelligence (AI) and gamification, are proving effective in addressing gaps in maternal health services by offering scalable and accessible care. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an AI-based gamified intervention, Gamification and Artificial Intelligence and mHealth Network for Maternal Health Improvement (GAIN MHI), on maternal health outcomes and uptake of ANC services among disadvantaged populations in Lebanon. The study was a community interventional trial with historical controls, conducted across 19 randomly allocated PHCs in 5 Lebanese governorates. Participants included pregnant women in their first trimester visiting PHCs. The intervention used mHealth tools, including educational mobile-based messages, appointment reminders, and the GAIN MHI app, which provided AI-driven and gamified learning for health care providers (HCPs). Data collected covered demographics, medical history, and maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Key outcome measures included uptake of health care services (eg, ANC visits, supplement intake, ultrasound completion, lab tests) and maternal and neonatal outcomes (eg, term delivery, normal delivery, abortion rate, neonatal morbidity, maternal complications). This study included 3989 participants, divided between a control group (n=1993, 50%) and an intervention group (n=1996, 50%). Regression models adjusting for demographics, health, and obstetric characteristics showed significantly higher odds in the intervention group for completing 4 or more ANC visits (odds ratio [OR] 1.569, 95% CI 1.329-1.852, P<.05), completing lab tests (OR 1.821, 95% CI 1.514-2.191, P<.05), 2 or more ultrasound screenings (OR 7.984, 95% CI 6.687-9.523, P<.05), urine analysis (OR 4.399, 95% CI 3.631-5.330, P<.05), and supplement intake (OR 3.508, 95% CI 2.982-4.128, P<.05). Regarding outcomes, the intervention group had 29.5% increased odds of a term delivery (OR 1.295, 95% CI 1.095-1.532, P=.002) and 58% increased odds of avoiding neonatal morbidity (OR 1.580, 95% CI 1.185-2.108, P=.002). However, both groups showed decreased odds of normal delivery (intervention: OR 0.774, 95% CI 0.657-0.911; control: OR 0.823, 95% CI 0.701-0.964) and increased odds of maternal complications (intervention: OR 0.535, 95% CI 0.449-0.637; control: OR 0.586, 95% CI 0.474-0.723; P<.05). The GAIN MHI intervention effectively improves uptake of ANC and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our findings highlight the potential of mHealth interventions to enhance health care delivery. To sustain these improvements, future research should focus on integrating mHealth with other interventions that address socioeconomic and contextual factors. This approach will further optimize maternal and neonatal health outcomes among disadvantaged populations.

Significant progress has been made in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) in recent decades. Between 1990 and 2015, the global mortality rate for children under age five years dropped by 53 percent, from 90.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 42.5 in 2015 (Liu and others 2016). Maternal mortality is also on the decline globally.Despite progress, maternal, neonatal, and under-five mortality remain high in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2015, approximately 303,000 women died as a result of complications from pregnancy and childbirth (WHO 2015). Globally, an estimated 5.9 million children under age five years die each year, including 2.7 million within the first month of life (Liu and others 2016).Health indicators differ across countries, regions, and socioeconomic levels (Lozano and others 2011). Approximately 99 percent of all newborn deaths occur in LMICs (Bayer 2001). Maternal mortality is concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hogan and others 2010), where mortality rates for the poor are double those for the nonpoor, and they are higher among rural populations and women with low levels of education (PLoS Medicine Editors 2010). Children living in low-income countries are three times more likely to die before age five years than children living in high-income countries (HICs) (Black and others 2013).Pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and inadequate nutrition drive early childhood deaths around the world. In 2015, an estimated 526,000 episodes of diarrhea and 922,000 cases of pneumonia in children under age five years led to death (Liu and others 2016). Undernutrition is a primary underlying cause of 3.5 million maternal and child deaths each year (Black and others 2013); stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies are responsible for approximately 35 percent of the disease burden in children under age five years and 11 percent of the total global disease burden (Lozano and others 2011). Although maternal mortality is caused chiefly by postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia and eclampsia, and sepsis, a large proportion of maternal deaths can be attributed to limited access to skilled care during childbirth and the postnatal period (Lozano and others 2011) as well as to limited access to family planning services and safe abortions (UNFPA and Guttmacher Institute 2010).An appropriate mix of interventions can significantly reduce the burden of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. However, these interventions often do not reach those who need them most (Bayer 2001; Sines, Tinker, and Ruben 2006). An integrated approach that includes community-based care as an essential component has the potential to substantially improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.This chapter provides a summary of community-based programs for improving MNCH. The chapter discusses strategies to improve the supply of services, including through community-based interventions and home visitations implemented by community health workers (CHWs), and strategies to increase demand for services, including through community mobilization efforts. The chapter summarizes the evidence about the impact of such interventions, describes contextual factors that affect implementation, and considers issues of cost-effectiveness. It concludes by highlighting research gaps, the challenges of scaling up, and the way forward.

BackgroundAs the number of deaths among children younger than 5 years of age continues to decline globally through programs to address the health of older infants, neonatal mortality is becoming an increasingly large proportion of under–5 deaths. Lack of access to safe delivery care, emergency obstetric care and postnatal care continue to be challenges for reducing neonatal mortality. This article reviews the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of community–based primary health care (CBPHC) and common components of programs aiming to improve health during the first 28 days of life.MethodsA database comprising evidence of the effectiveness of projects, programs and field research studies (referred to collectively as projects) in improving maternal, neonatal and child health through CBPHC has been assembled and described elsewhere in this series. From this larger database (N = 548), a subset was created from assessments specifically relating to newborn health (N = 93). Assessments were excluded if the primary project beneficiaries were more than 28 days of age, or if the assessment did not identify one of the following outcomes related to neonatal health: changes in knowledge about newborn illness, care seeking for newborn illness, utilization of postnatal care, nutritional status of neonates, neonatal morbidity, or neonatal mortality. Descriptive analyses were conducted based on study type and outcome variables. An equity assessment was also conducted on the articles included in the neonatal subset.ResultsThere is strong evidence that CBPHC can be effective in improving neonatal health, and we present information about the common characteristics shared by effective programs. For projects that reported on health outcomes, twice as many reported an improvement in neonatal health as did those that reported no effect; only one study demonstrated a negative effect. Of those with the strongest experimental study design, almost three–quarters reported beneficial neonatal health outcomes. Many of the neonatal projects assessed in our database utilized community health workers (CHWs), home visits, and participatory women’s groups. Several of the interventions used in these projects focused on health education (recognition of danger signs), and promotion of and support for exclusive breastfeeding (sometimes, but not always, including early breastfeeding). Almost all of the assessments that included a measurable equity component showed that CBPHC produced neonatal health benefits that favored the poorest segment of the project population. However, the studies were quite biased in geographic scope, with more than half conducted in South Asia, and many were pilot studies, rather than projects at scale.ConclusionsCBPHC can be effectively employed to improve neonatal health in high–mortality, resource–constrained settings. CBPHC is especially important for education and support for pregnant and postpartum mothers and for establishing community–facility linkages to facilitate referrals for obstetrical emergencies; however, the latter will only produce better health outcomes if facilities offer timely, high–quality care. Further research on this topic is needed in Africa and Latin America, as well as in urban and peri–urban areas. Additionally, more assessments are needed of integrated packages of neonatal interventions and of programs at scale.

Sociocultural barriers to maternity services delivery: a qualitative meta-synthesis of the literature

IntroductionDespite increasing use of mHealth interventions, there remains limited documentation of ‘how and why’ they are used and therefore the explanatory mechanisms behind observed effects on beneficiary health outcomes. We...

Black-White disparities in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality highlight health inequities in several settings, yet such racial disparities in Canada are not well defined. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify the extent of epidemiologic evidence assessing Black-White disparities in maternal and neonatal health in Canada. We included peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies which measured maternal or neonatal outcomes in Black versus White individuals in Canada. We searched OVID platforms (MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare) from inception to May 9, 2024, using keywords and controlled vocabulary terms related to race and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Results synthesis was carried out using descriptive analysis. After exclusions, six retrospective cohort studies were included in the scoping review. The majority of the included studies used data obtained from provincial datasets (n = 5), defined maternal race using self-reported race (n = 5), and were set in Ontario (n = 4). All studies reported one or more significant associations between race and adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes, with Black individuals experiencing higher rates of spontaneous fetal loss (n = 1), perinatal mortality (n = 1), preterm birth (n = 3), small for gestational age infants (n = 1), low Apgar scores (n = 2), congenital heart disease (n = 1), neonatal intensive care unit admission (n = 1), preeclampsia (n = 2), gestational diabetes (n = 1), and inadequate gestational weight gain (n = 1). Although literature on the topic is sparse, Black-White disparities in maternal and neonatal health in Canada are apparent. National, population-based data are needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of racial disparities in maternal and neonatal health and the factors driving these differences.

Reducing Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Through a Community Collaborative Approach: Introduction to a Special Issue on the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership (MaNHEP)

Background/Aims Neonatal mortality remains a global challenge. In Ghana, neonatal mortality accounts for up to 50% of child mortality. A better understanding of the neonatal outcomes of obstetrics complications could contribute to context-specific evidence-based care to prevent neonatal deaths. This study aimed to describe the relationship between poor neonatal outcomes and obstetric complications in a tertiary health facility in the north of Ghana. Methods This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at a tertiary health facility in northern Ghana. Purposive convenience sampling was used to select 384 mothers who experienced obstetric complications. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the participants' neonatal health outcomes. The chi-square test was performed to determine the relationship between neonatal health outcomes and obstetric complications, with significance set at P&lt;0.05. Results A total of 20 obstetric complications were recorded. Overall, 327 participants had a single complication. The three most common obstetric complications resulting in adverse neonatal outcomes were obstructed labour (56.0%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (14.6%) and postpartum haemorrhage (11.6%). The majority (66.7%) of the neonates were healthy at birth, with 21.9% and 11.5% being sick or stillborn respectively. Obstetric complications were significantly associated with both neonatal morbidities and mortalities at P&lt;0.000. Conclusions Preventable maternal obstetric complications continue to cause adverse neonatal outcomes in health facilities in Ghana. Appraisal of maternal and newborn care practices may be necessary to understand context-specific factors.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent global health problem. IPV that occurs before pregnancy often continues during the perinatal period, resulting in ongoing violence and many adverse maternal, obstetrical, and neonatal outcomes. This scoping review is designed to broadly capture all potential interventions for perinatal IPV and describe their core components and measured outcomes. We conducted a search for empirical studies describing IPV interventions in the perinatal population in June 2022. The search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts, ClinicalTrials.gov and MedRxiv. Hand searching of references from select articles was also performed. Included studies described an intervention for those experiencing IPV during the perinatal period, including 12 months before pregnancy, while pregnant or in the 12 months post-partum. The search encompassed January 2000 to June 2022 and only peer-reviewed studies written in either English or French were included. Included interventions focused on the survivor exposed to IPV, rather than healthcare professionals administering the intervention. Interventions designed to reduce IPV revictimization or any adverse maternal, obstetrical, or neonatal health outcomes as well as social outcomes related to IPV victimization were included. We used standard methodological procedures expected by The Campbell Collaboration. In total, 10,079 titles and abstracts were screened and 226 proceeded to full text screening. A total of 67 studies included perinatal IPV interventions and were included in the final sample. These studies included a total of 27,327 participants. Included studies originated from 19 countries, and the majority were randomized controlled trials (n = 43). Most studies were of moderate or low quality. Interventions included home visitation, educational modules, counseling, and cash transfer programs and occurred primarily in community obstetrician and gynecologist clinics, hospitals, or in participants' homes. Most interventions focused on reducing revictimization of IPV (n = 38), improving survivor knowledge or acceptance of violence, knowledge of community resources, and actions to reduce violence (n = 28), and improving maternal mental health outcomes (n = 26). Few studies evaluated the effect of perinatal IPV interventions on obstetrical, neonatal or child health outcomes. The majority of intervention studies for perinatal IPV focus on reducing revictimization and improving mental health outcomes, very few included obstetrical, neonatal, and other physical health outcomes. Future interventions should place a larger emphasis on targeting maternal and neonatal outcomes to have the largest possible impact on the lives and families of IPV survivors and their infants.

Financial barriers can affect timely access to maternal health services. Health insurance can influence the use and quality of these services and potentially improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the evidence on health insurance and its effects on the use and provision of maternal health services and on maternal and neonatal health outcomes in middle- and low-income countries. Studies were identified through a literature search in key databases and consultation with experts in healthcare financing and maternal health. Twenty-nine articles met the review criteria of focusing on health insurance and its effect on the use or quality of maternal health services, or maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Sixteen studies assessed demand-side effects of insurance, eight focused on supply-side effects, and the remainder addressed both. Geographically, the studies provided evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (n = 11), Asia (n = 9), Latin America (n = 8), and Turkey. The studies included examples from national or social insurance schemes (n = 7), government-run public health insurance schemes (n = 4), community-based health insurance schemes (n = 11), and private insurance (n = 3). Half of the studies used econometric analyses while the remaining provided descriptive statistics or qualitative results. There is relatively consistent evidence that health insurance is positively correlated with the use of maternal health services. Only four studies used methods that can establish this causal relationship. Six studies presented suggestive evidence of over-provision of caesarean sections in response to providers' payment incentives through health insurance. Few studies focused on the relationship between health insurance and the quality of maternal health services or maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The available evidence on the quality and health outcomes is inconclusive, given the differences in measurement, contradictory findings, and statistical limitations. Consistent with economic theories, the studies identified a positive relationship between health insurance and the use of maternal health services. However, more rigorous causal methods are needed to identify the extent to which the use of these services increases among the insured. Better measurement of quality and the use of cross-country analyses would solidify the evidence on the impact of insurance on the quality of maternal health services and maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

ObjectivesTo provide population-level insights into COVID-19 testing behaviour and test results among all pregnant women in the Netherlands and to assess the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal health outcomes.DesignRetrospective population-based cohort study.SettingDutch registry data on maternal and neonatal health outcomes linked with COVID-19 testing and sociodemographic data for the study period 2020 and 2021.ParticipantsTo study testing behaviour, all pregnant women who gave birth in the Netherlands during 2020 and 2021 were included (N=322 720). To study the effects of maternal infection, women who gave birth between June 2020 and September 2021 and who were tested for COVID-19 were included (N=68 059).Primary and secondary outcome measuresFor testing behaviour: number of COVID-19 tests performed and COVID-19 test results. For neonatal health outcomes: preterm birth, low birth weight for gestational age (small for gestational age (SGA)), BIG2 (preterm birth and/or SGA), Apgar score at 5 min below seven (low Apgar), Apgar score at 5 min below four (very low Apgar), neonatal intensive care unit admission, congenital anomalies and mortality. For maternal health outcomes: major postpartum haemorrhage (>1000 mL), severe ruptures (third or fourth degree), type of delivery and episiotomy.ResultsCompared with the reference group (women aged 30–34), women under 20 had the lowest probability of being tested (16.5% vs 31.3%; OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.49), but when tested, they had significantly higher odds of testing positive (19.3% vs 12.9%; OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.14). Women originating from ‘other African’ countries were least likely to be tested (15.1%; OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.39), while women whose country of origin was ‘Morocco’ were most likely to test positive when tested (33.4%; OR 3.63, 95% CI 3.35 to 3.93). While over all trimesters a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy did not show significant effects, an infection during the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (5.2% vs 6.4%; OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.52) and a low 5-min Apgar score (1.9% vs 2.9%; OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.02). No significant adverse maternal health effects were observed.ConclusionThere were significant differences in testing behaviour and the probability of testing positive for COVID-19 among pregnant women from different age groups, countries of origin and socioeconomic backgrounds. SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was not associated with significant effects on maternal health outcomes, and only limited effects on neonatal health were observed. Only infections occurring in the first trimester were linked to an increased risk of preterm births and low 5-min Apgar scores.

BackgroundCOVID-19 impacted global maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes. We hypothesised that the early, strict lockdown that restricted individuals’ movements in Uganda limited access to services.MethodsAn observational study, using routinely...

Linkages Among Reproductive Health, Maternal Health, and Perinatal Outcomes