The EN-BIRTH study uses quantitative and qualitative methods across four objectives (Table 2). The validity of coverage indicators of selected maternal and newborn interventions as measured by routine facility registers and maternal recall surveys will be assessed by comparison with the “gold standard” of direct observation (Figure 4, panel A). Observation will be undertaken in three clinical settings (Labour/Delivery ward, Operation theatre, and KMC ward/area) by trained clinical observers. Data will be extracted from facility registers and verification of inpatient records carried out for newborns who received antibiotics for presumed infection, and for women who received ACS. Interviews to capture maternal recall will be conducted prior to discharge with all women whose births and/or their newborn’s care were observed or case notes were verified. In addition, barriers and enablers to recording of selected indicators in routine facility registers will be evaluated. Data flow into national HMIS platforms and perceived utility of data will be documented.
Research questions were informed by consultation with many Every Newborn stakeholders [9 ,17 (link)] including WHO-led Measurement Improvement Roadmap meeting [15 ] and EN-BIRTH Expert Advisory Group (listed as author group). More than 60 participants in an EN-BIRTH study design workshop [49 ] provided representation from country partners, national stakeholders, UN agencies, leading academic and professional experts in the field, governmental and non-governmental organisations, clinicians, program managers, other key experts and donors (see Appendix S1 in Online Supplementary Document) and contributed to development of the research protocol (Box 1).
Free full text: Click here