ABSTRACT
Background: Every PreemieSCALE developed and piloted the Family-Led Care model, an innovative, locally developed model of care for preterm and low birth weight babies receiving kangaroo mother care. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe healthcare workers' experience using Family-Led Care. Setting: This study was conducted in five health facilities and their catchment areas in Balaka district, Malawi. Methods: The mixed-methods design, with two data collection periods, included record reviews, observations and questionnaires for facility staff and qualitative interviews with health workers of these facilities and their catchment areas. The total convenience sample comprised 123 health professionals, support staff and non-professional community health workers. Results: Facility-based staff generally had positive perceptions of Family-Led Care (83%). Knowledge and application-of-knowledge scores were 69% and 52%, respectively. A major change between the first and the second data periods was improvement in client record-keeping. Documentation of newborn vital signs increased from 62% to 92%. Themes emerging from the qualitative interview analysis were the following: benefits of Family-Led Care; activities supporting the implementation of Family-Led Care; own care practices; and families' reaction to and experience of Family-Led Care. Conclusion: This article reports improved quality of care through better documentation and better follow-up of preterm and low birth weight babies receiving kangaroo mother care according to the Family-Led Care model. Overall, health workers were positive about their involvement, and they reported positive reactions from families. Lessons learned have been incorporated into a universal Family-Led Care package that is available for adaptation by other countries
Subject(s)
Health Personnel , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Kangaroo-Mother Care Method , Malawi , Premature Birth , Quality of Health CareABSTRACT
Introduction : The objective of the study was to find out factors that affect the intentions of men and women to use family planning methods. Methods: The study was conducted in Mangochi district; the southern region of Malawi in 2006. About 60 Focus group discussions were conducted to identify the attitudes and beliefs of 30 male and 30 female participants regarding family planning methods. The data was then transcribed and analyzed manually identifying central themes and relationships across the cases and narratives. Results : Most of the respondents knew the different types of family planning methods and reported that health facilities had adequate stock of family planning supplies. However; it was found that most of the women and men were not using any modern family planning methods. Reasons included: family planning methods were perceived side effects; such as prolonged menstruation; men's concerns about impotence and genital sores; weight gain or loss; and subsequent infertility. Traditional family planning methods were mostly used for infertility problems. Conclusion: Despite knowing about the different types of family planning methods; and awareness of their ready availability in health facilities; use of these methods is low because considerable misinformation still prevails regarding contraceptive methods' side effects