Midwife-led pandemic telemedicine services for maternal health and gender-based violence screening in Bangladesh: an implementation research case study

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted maternal and newborn health services in Bangladesh, exacerbating the large gaps in service utilization that existed prior to the pandemic. As part of its response, Bangladesh initiated remote antenatal and postnatal care telemedicine services led by midwives in 36 sub-district hospitals across five of Bangladesh’s 64 districts. Gender-based violence screening and referral were integrated into the service to address a reported rise in violence following the country’s pandemic lockdown. Methods Mixed-methods implementation research was used to develop an intrinsic case study describing the design and implementation of the telemedicine program. Qualitative analysis comprised document review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative analysis employed an interrupted time series analysis with segmented multi-variate regression to compare maternity care service use trends before and after implementation. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the trend in number of gender-based violence remote screenings, sessions held, and cases identified. Results A statistically significant change in trend for onsite antenatal and postpartum care as well as women seeking care at the hospital as a result of postpartum hemorrhage arising in the community was observed following the introduction of telemedicine. Facility births and cases of eclampsia appropriately identified and managed also had significant increases. In addition, over 6917 women were screened for GBV, 223 received counseling and 34 referrals were made, showing a statistically significant increase in frequency over time following the implementation of the telemedicine program. Challenges included that not all midwives adopted GBV screening, some women were reluctant to discuss GBV, there was an unanticipated need to introduce a patient visit scheduling system in all intervention hospitals, and many women were not reachable by phone due to lack of access or network coverage. Conclusions Maternal health and gender-based violence telemedicine led by midwives was an effective, low-cost intervention in Bangladesh for addressing pandemic and pre-pandemic gaps in service use. Other low and middle-income countries planning to implement remote maternal health interventions via midwives should consider whether a patient visit scheduling system needs to be introduced, as well as limitations around mobile phone access and connectivity. Future research should include care quality oversight and improvement, and a more well-informed strategy for facilitating effective GBV screening.

Health System Strengthening Through Professional Midwives in Bangladesh: Best Practices, Challenges, and Successes

“…After 1 year of implementation, ANC service use in 31 facilities and facility births in all 36 had increased to levels before the pandemic. 42 Also, in all 36 facilities, GBV sessions and referrals steadily increased from the start of the program, and PPH and eclampsia identification more than doubled from before the pandemic to after. Statistical testing showed significant increases in GBV service provision, ANC visits, PPH management, and postnatal care utilization and no significant increase in facility births or eclampsia management.…”

“…A midwife-led telemedicine intervention was introduced in 5 districts. 42 In many cases, midwives and mentors led the introduction of COVID-19 safety protocols for hospital triage systems and for establishing separate rooms for COVID-19 symptomatic mothers to receive ANC and deliver. 19 Before and after surveys of 91 hospitals with midwives showed significant improvements across all measures of COVID-19 readiness.…”

“… 19 Before and after surveys of 91 hospitals with midwives showed significant improvements across all measures of COVID-19 readiness. 42 …”

“…Statistical testing showed significant increases in GBV service provision, ANC visits, PPH management, and postnatal care utilization and no significant increase in facility births or eclampsia management. 42 …”

Violencia de Género y Calidad de Vida en Madres de Familia en una Institución Educativa Inicial de Marcará, 2023

“…En el caso del uso de la violencia verbal, a veces se acepta como parte de la vida cotidiana, pero sigue siendo un componente de la violencia de tipo psicológico. Los diferentes tipos de violencia psicológica pueden manifestarse a través de gritos, intimidaciones, maltratos, formas de aislamiento a las mujeres (como quedarse en casa o evitar el contacto con otras personas), celos excesivos, posesividad extrema, intimidación, degradación, humillación, insultos y críticas constantes (Islam et al, 2023). Este análisis resalta la importancia de comprender la correlación entre la violencia psicológica y la calidad de vida de las madres de familia.…”