Group Care in the first 1000 days: implementation and process evaluation of contextually adapted antenatal and postnatal group care targeting diverse vulnerable populations in high-, middle- and low-resource settings

Implementation Science Communications, vol. 3, pp. 125

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Group care (GC) improves the quality of maternity care, stimulates women's participation in their own care and facilitates growth of women's social support networks. There is an urgent need to identify and disseminate the best mechanisms for implementing GC in ways that are feasible, context appropriate and sustainable. This protocol presents the aims and methods of an innovative implementation research project entitled Group Care in the first 1000 days (GC_1000), which addresses this need. AIMS: The aim of GC_1000 is to co-create and disseminate evidence-based implementation strategies and tools to support successful implementation and scale-up of GC in health systems throughout the world, with particular attention to the needs of 'vulnerable' populations. METHODS: By working through five inter-related work packages, each with specific tasks, objectives and deliverables, the global research team will systematically examine and document the implementation and scale-up processes of antenatal and postnatal GC in seven different countries. The GC_1000 project is grounded theoretically in the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR), while the process evaluation is guided by 'Realistic Evaluation' principles. Data are gathered across all research phases and analysis at each stage is synthesized to develop Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome configurations. DISCUSSION: GC_1000 will generate evidence-based knowledge about the integration of complex interventions into diverse health care systems. The 4-year project also will pave the way for sustained implementation of GC, significantly benefitting populations with adverse pregnancy and birthing experiences as well as poor outcomes.

Authors 18

1. Nele Martens corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands. n.martens@lumc.nl

   Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands

2. Mathilde R. Crone Aachen

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands

3. Ashna D. Hindori‐Mohangoo
   Affiliation as printed

   Foundation for Perinatal Interventions and Research in Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname

4. Manodj P. Hindori
   Affiliation as printed

   Foundation for Perinatal Interventions and Research in Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname

5. Ria Reis Aachen

   Leiden University · University of Cape Town · Leiden University Medical Center · Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development

   Affiliation as printed

   Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD), Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands

   University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

6. Ilir S. Hoxha
   Affiliation as printed

   Action for Mothers and Children, Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo

   Evidence Synthesis Group Prishtina, Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo

7. Jedidia Abanga
   Affiliation as printed

   Presby Health Services, Accra, Ghana

8. Shanaaz Matthews

   University of Cape Town

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

9. Lizette M. Berry

   University of Cape Town

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

10. Rianne van der Kleij Aachen

    Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands

11. M. Elske van den Akker‐van Marle Aachen

    Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands

12. Astrid Van Damme

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel · Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

    Affiliation as printed

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium

13. Florence Talrich

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel · Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

    Affiliation as printed

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium

14. Katrien Beeckman

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel · University of Antwerp · Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

    Affiliation as printed

    Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium

15. Christine McCourt

    City, University of London · City St George's, University of London

    Affiliation as printed

    City University of London, London, UK

16. Sharon Schindler Rising
    Affiliation as printed

    Group Care Global, Philadelphia, USA

17. Deborah L. Billings
    Affiliation as printed

    Group Care Global, Philadelphia, USA

18. Marlies E. B. Rijnders

    Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, The Hague, Netherlands