Applying the COM-B Model to Understand the Drivers of Mistreatment During Childbirth: A Qualitative Enquiry Among Maternity Care Staff

Understanding the Mechanisms of Change in the Supportive and Respectful Maternity Care Intervention in Sindh, Pakistan: Provider Perspectives

INTRODUCTION

We conducted this qualitative investigation to explore the mechanisms of change in providing respectful care resulting from the supportive and respectful maternity care intervention (S-RMC) in Sindh, Pakistan.

METHODS

We applied the principles of realist evaluation methodology with a descriptive explanatory research design. We conducted in-depth interviews with 36 maternity care providers at secondary-level public health facilities where S-RMC was implemented for 6 months. The S-RMC broad components included capacity-building of maternity teams and systemic changes for improvements in governance and accountability within public health facilities. Data were analyzed using a deductive content analysis approach.

RESULTS

We identified mechanisms of change, categorized by the S-RMC components: (1) S-RMC training: insight into women's feelings and rights, realization of the value that nonclinical staff can play, understanding of team coordination, orientation in psychosocial components of maternity care; (2) assessment of women's psychosocial vulnerabilities: identification of women's differential needs beyond routine care to provide woman-centered care; (3) psychosocial support: effective engagement with women and within maternity teams and the customization of woman- and companion-focused care; (4) care coordination: improved coordination among clinical and nonclinical staff to provide personalized care and psychosocial support and proper handover to ensure continuity of care; (5) assessment of quality of care: identification of service gaps from women's feedback; and (6) performance review and accountability: monthly performance review meetings to establish team member communication, systematic awareness of the maternity team's performance and challenges, and implementation of collective corrective actions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings pointed to S-RMC working along multiple pathways-and concertedly with various health system components-to enable positive processes and behavioral change in maternity teams.

Promoting Supportive and Respectful Maternity Care in Public Health Facilities in Sindh, Pakistan: A Theory-Informed Health System Intervention

BACKGROUND

Disrespect, abuse, discrimination, and lack of emotional support characterize intrapartum care in the health systems of many low- and middle-income countries. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) provides frameworks and guidelines to address this issue, no operational model exists that effectively incorporates WHO intrapartum care guidelines into routine public health services. We aimed to develop and pilot-test a theory-driven, service-delivery intervention package linking dignified care with perinatal mental health to promote psychosocially supportive and respectful maternity care (S-RMC) in public health facilities in Sindh, Pakistan.

METHODS

Using a mixed-method, pre-post design, the study was implemented in 6 secondary-level public health facilities in 2 rural districts of Southern Sindh, Pakistan. Its development was guided by the COM-B framework and informed by a literature review, formative research, and consultative sessions with implementers. The intervention was implemented in March-September 2021 and compared women's experiences of S-RMC during childbirth at baseline (n=313) and endline (n=314). We used descriptive statistics and linear regression techniques for analysis.

RESULTS

A substantial reduction was observed in the cumulative level of overall mistreatment from baseline to endline, yielding a relative change of 50% (P<.001). Similar change was evident across different types of mistreatment: physical abuse (75%), verbal abuse (72%), ineffective communication (60%), nonconfidential care (78%), health system conditions and constraints (25%), noninclusive care (28%), lack of supportive care (52%), and stigma and discrimination (82%). Furthermore, we observed a significant reduction in the proportion of women experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

This intervention built the capacity of maternity teams while improving accountability, health information systems, and governance measures. Given its promise to promote supportive and respectful childbirth in public health facilities, a large-scale effectiveness evaluation across diverse settings is warranted.