Studies Published on Group Antenatal and Postnatal Care in Rwanda

Two papers from the group antenatal care trial in Rwanda were recently published in Reproductive Health and the Journal of Global Health Reports.

The first, titled “Before and after implementation of group antenatal care (ANC) in Rwanda: a qualitative study of women’s experiences,” concluded that group antenatal and postnatal care provide compelling benefits, including increased knowledge, peer support, and better relationships with providers. Additionally, if implementing group ANC requires greater human resources at the health center and increased community outreach, those resources must be factored into any future decision to scale a group care model.

In the second study, “Postnatal care in Rwanda: facilitators and barriers to postnatal care attendance and recommendations to improve participation,” qualitative data were collected to guide development of an ANC and PNC model. The data provided evidence that postnatal care service delivery performed by community health workers, while initially not well understood, is now accepted, and valued. Furthermore, the study revealed that PNC can contribute to reductions in morbidity and mortality in mothers and newborns through support that identifies danger signs and establishes practices and referral processes.