'I have a lot of faith in her': Value of community health workers in addressing family planning in rural Ghana.

In rural settings with shortages in trained health care workers, community health workers (CHWs) play an important role in the delivery of health care services. The Ghana Health Service initiated a national CHW programme in 2016 to expand health services to rural populations. This study explored the perceived role and value of CHWs in addressing family planning issues in the Amansie West district of Ghana. The study included in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 28 women in the community, ages 18-49, and 30 CHWs. Using inductive thematic analysis, IDIs were coded to explore opinions on the CHWs' role and perceived value in the delivery of family planning. Participants explained that CHWs provided family planning as part of a healthcare package through household visits and referrals to government services. The value of CHWs in delivering family planning was seen in confidentiality, accessibility, and comfort. Participants recommended an enlarged CHW workforce with a range of commodities and programmatic support. The findings suggest CHWs play an important role in promoting family planning, by serving as a bridge between the community and clinics. In rural communities where resources are scarce, CHWs are an invaluable part of the broader healthcare system.

Side effect concerns and their impact on women's uptake of modern family planning methods in rural Ghana: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Despite availability of modern contraceptive methods and documented unmet need for family planning in Ghana, many women still report forgoing modern contraceptive use due to anticipated side effects. The goal of this study was to examine the use of modern family planning, in particular hormonal methods, in one district in rural Ghana, and to understand the role that side effects play in women's decisions to start or continue use. METHODS: This exploratory mixed-methods study included 281 surveys and 33 in-depth interviews of women 18-49 years old in the Amansie West District of Ghana between May and July 2018. The survey assessed contraceptive use and potential predictors of use. In-depth interviews examined the context around uptake and continuation of contraceptive use, with a particular focus on the role of perceived and experienced side effects. RESULTS: The prevalence of unmet need for modern family planning among sexually active women who wanted to avoid pregnancy (n = 135) was 68.9%. No factors were found to be significantly different in comparing those with a met need and unmet for modern family planning. Qualitative interviews revealed significant concerns about side effects stemming from previous method experiences and/or rumors regarding short-term impacts and perceived long-term consequences of family planning use. Side effects mentioned include menstrual changes (heavier bleeding, amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea), infertility and childbirth complications. CONCLUSION: As programs have improved women's ability to access modern family planning, it is paramount to address patient-level barriers to uptake, in particular information about side effects and misconceptions about long-term use. Unintended pregnancies can be reduced through comprehensive counseling about contraceptive options including accurate information about side effects, and the development of new contraceptive technologies that meet women's needs in low-income countries.

Mobile phones and social structures: an exploration of a closed user group in rural Ghana.

BACKGROUND: In the Millennium Villages Project site of Bonsaaso, Ghana, the Health Team is using a mobile phone closed user group to place calls amongst one another at no cost. METHODS: In order to determine the utilization and acceptability of the closed user group amongst users, social network analysis and qualitative methods were used. Key informants were identified and interviewed. The key informants also kept prospective call journals. Billing statements and de-identified call data from the closed user group were used to generate data for analyzing the social structure revealed by the network traffic. RESULTS: The majority of communication within the closed user group was personal and not for professional purposes. The members of the CUG felt that the group improved their efficiency at work. CONCLUSIONS: The methods used present an interesting way to investigate the social structure surrounding communication via mobile phones. In addition, the benefits identified from the exploration of this closed user group make a case for supporting mobile phone closed user groups amongst professional groups.

Using social networking to understand social networks: analysis of a mobile phone closed user group used by a Ghanaian health team.

BACKGROUND: The network structure of an organization influences how well or poorly an organization communicates and manages its resources. In the Millennium Villages Project site in Bonsaaso, Ghana, a mobile phone closed user group has been introduced for use by the Bonsaaso Millennium Villages Project Health Team and other key individuals. No assessment on the benefits or barriers of the use of the closed user group had been carried out. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to make the case for the use of social network analysis methods to be applied in health systems research--specifically related to mobile health. METHODS: This study used mobile phone voice records of, conducted interviews with, and reviewed call journals kept by a mobile phone closed user group consisting of the Bonsaaso Millennium Villages Project Health Team. Social network analysis methodology complemented by a qualitative component was used. Monthly voice data of the closed user group from Airtel Bharti Ghana were analyzed using UCINET and visual depictions of the network were created using NetDraw. Interviews and call journals kept by informants were analyzed using NVivo. RESULTS: The methodology was successful in helping identify effective organizational structure. Members of the Health Management Team were the more central players in the network, rather than the Community Health Nurses (who might have been expected to be central). CONCLUSIONS: Social network analysis methodology can be used to determine the most productive structure for an organization or team, identify gaps in communication, identify key actors with greatest influence, and more. In conclusion, this methodology can be a useful analytical tool, especially in the context of mobile health, health services, and operational and managerial research.

A community-based continuum of care model for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in rural Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: To report on Phase 1 of an operations research study designed to reduce postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)-related morbidity and mortality in rural Ghana. METHODS: Phase 1 of the study-which included a needs assessment, community sensitization, implementation of blood collection drapes, training of service providers, and baseline data collection-comprised preliminary work to prepare for misoprostol distribution in Phase 2. Seventy-four primary healthcare providers were trained on safe-motherhood practices, use of blood collection drapes, and data collection. Baseline data were collected from 275 women regarding home deliveries, who attended the deliveries, incidence of PPH, and use of blood collection drapes. RESULTS: Blood collection drapes were used at 67.6% of deliveries, increasing to 88.5% over the final 6months of Phase 1. Community health extension workers (CHEWs) were present at 57.1% of all deliveries but attendance increased to 86.9% during the last 6months of Phase 1. Overall, 96.0% of deliveries resulted in healthy outcomes for the mother; 4.0% of births had complications. CONCLUSION: The preliminary work conducted in Phase 1 of the study was crucial in guiding misoprostol distribution in Phase 2. However, challenges existed, including inadequate community sensitization, low home-birth attendance by CHEWs, and data collection problems.