Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31870383›Full record

ArticleHuman resources for health2019

Reducing maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria-a qualitative study of stakeholders' perceptions about the performance of community health workers and the introduction of community midwifery at primary healthcare level.

Ekechi Okereke, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Godwin Unumeri, Bello Mohammed, Babatunde Ahonsi

Open access · goldAbstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Human resources for health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 26 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Ekechi OkerekePopulation Council, 16 Mafemi Crescent, off Solomon Lar Way, Utako, Abuja, Nigeria. eokereke78@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-8686-6459
Salisu Mohammed IshakuPopulation Council, 16 Mafemi Crescent, off Solomon Lar Way, Utako, Abuja, Nigeria.
Godwin UnumeriPopulation Council, 16 Mafemi Crescent, off Solomon Lar Way, Utako, Abuja, Nigeria.
Bello MohammedWorld Health Organization (WHO), Abuja, Nigeria.
Babatunde AhonsiUNFPA China, 1-161 Tayuan Diplomatic Office Building, Beijing, China.
Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria · NGPopulation Council · INWorld Health Organization - Nigeria · NG

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRural communities in Nigeria account for high maternal and newborn mortality rates in the country. Thus, there is a need for innovative models of service delivery, possibly with greater community engagement. Introducing and strengthening community midwifery practice within the Nigerian primary healthcare system is a clear policy option. The potential of community midwifery to increase the availability of skilled care during pregnancy, at birth and within postpartum periods in the health systems of developing countries has not been fully explored. This study was designed to assess stakeholders' perceptions about the performance of community health workers and the feasibility of introducing and using community midwifery to address the high maternal and newborn mortality within the Nigerian healthcare system.

methodsThis study was undertaken in two human resources for health (HRH) project focal states (Bauchi and Cross River States) in Nigeria, utilizing a qualitative research design. Interviews were conducted with 44 purposively selected key informants. Key informants were selected based on their knowledge and experience working with different cadres of frontline health workers at primary healthcare level. The qualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed and then thematically analysed.

resultsSome study participants felt that introducing community midwifery will increase access to maternal and newborn healthcare services, especially in rural communities. Others felt that applying community midwifery at the primary healthcare level may lead to duplication of duties among the health worker cadres, possibly creating disharmony. Some key informants suggested that there should be concerted efforts to train and retrain the existing cadres of community health workers via the effective implementation of the task shifting policy in Nigeria, in addition to possibly revising the existing training curricula, instead of introducing community midwifery.

conclusionApplying community midwifery within the Nigerian healthcare system has the potential to increase the availability of skilled care during pregnancy, at birth and within postpartum periods, especially in rural communities. However, there needs to be broader stakeholder engagement, more awareness creation and the careful consideration of modalities for introducing and strengthening community midwifery training and practice within the Nigerian health system as well as within the health systems of other developing countries.

Indexed as

Community Health WorkersInfant MortalityMaternal MortalityClinical CompetenceCommunity Health ServicesFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaternal Health ServicesMidwiferyNigeriaPregnancyPrimary Health CareQualitative ResearchRural PopulationCommunity midwiferyMaternal and newborn mortalityNigeriaPrimary healthcare

Identifiers

PMID31870383
PMCPMC6929448
OpenAlexW2996745990

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.