Observational studyBMJ open2025
Feasibility and acceptability of point-of-care ultrasound delivered by midwives during routine antenatal care in Malawi: a prospective implementation science study.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Evaluating the usability and practicality of AI-enabled smartphone-based obstetric ultrasound in Sierra Leone: a mixed-methods study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- Providers' and pregnant women's perspectives on obstetric point-of-care ultrasound use in peri-urban Karachi, Pakistan: a qualitative study.BMC digital health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
17 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of integrating point-of-care ultrasound scan (POCUS) by midwives into routine antenatal care (ANC) services.
designProspective, observational, multiphase, implementation science study.
main outcome measuresPrimary outcomes included the proportion of midwives who completed training and competency checks for basic obstetric scanning using a POCUS device; the feasibility and acceptability of midwife-delivered POCUS from the perspectives of midwives and pregnant women captured on structured questionnaires; and the proportion of scans meeting predefined quality standards. Secondary outcomes included responses to acceptability-related questionnaires administered to midwives and pregnant women.
settingRural, periurban and urban health centres in Blantyre District, Malawi.
participantsPregnant women attending ANC and midwives providing care at participating health facilities.
resultsObstetric registrars trained and mentored 45 midwives, and 42 (93%) completed the training. Most midwives (95%, n=40) found providing POCUS during ANC was feasible and acceptable. Overall, device durability was rated positively. Of the 1499 pregnant women who received a scan, 99% (n=1484) reported that receiving an ultrasound from a midwife during ANC was acceptable. Independent assessors determined that over 70% of the subsample of reviewed scans met minimum quality standards.
conclusionsMidwife-delivered POCUS is feasible and highly acceptable in diverse antenatal settings in Malawi. These findings support task-sharing models as a means of expanding access to this essential ANC service, particularly in low-resource settings.
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Registered trials
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