Group Postpartum and Well-Child Care for Maternal and Infant Health
Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Integrated Group Postpartum and Well-child Care Model on Maternal and Child Health Outcomes
Johns Hopkins University
1,125 participants
Mar 30, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated group postpartum and well-child care model, compared to individual (usual) postnatal and well-child care, on maternal and child health outcomes. Results will provide clinical evidence for improved maternal and infant health care in the first year postpartum. The study will inform and provide lessons learned to advance maternal and infant health service delivery models in low resource settings.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria9
- Aims 1\&2:
- Women presenting for their 1-week postnatal care visit with their infant at a study site clinic.
- Over age 15.
- One infant is less than 4 weeks old.
- Able to speak and understand Chichewa.
- Adolescents 15-17 must bring parent/guardian for consent/assent. Infants included as part of mother-infant dyad.
- Aim 3:
- Midwife or HSA serving as group care co-facilitator or key stakeholders in MoH/Zomba District/clinical administration
- Able to speak Chichewa and/or English.
Exclusion Criteria7
- Aim 1\&2
- Under age 15.
- Serious physical or mental illness or marked cognitive impairment preventing informed consent.
- Inability to participate in full intervention
- Multiple infants (e.g. twins, triplets)
- Aim 3
- Serious physical or mental illness or marked cognitive impairment preventing informed consent.
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Interventions
Group care in the postpartum period brings the same group of 8-10 women and their infants, born within one month of one another, together for one year of integrated healthcare for the dyad. Sessions are co-facilitated by a midwife and HSA. Each session is 120 minutes: first 30-45 minutes consist of self-assessments (measuring infant's weight/length, taking own vital signs) and standard health assessments by a clinician; health concerns are identified/managed and referrals made if needed. Followed by 75-90 minutes of interactive health promotion, skills-building, and support activities. 6-visit model aligned with Malawian vaccine schedule: 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months.
Locations(16)
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NCT07414901