Community- based maternal and newborn interventions in Africa: Systematic review.
Clemence Nishimwe, Gugu G Mchunu, Dariya Mukamusoni
PMID 33656214WHAT IT FOUND
Community maternal and newborn care in Africa was organised around staffing, supplies, access and linked antenatal, delivery and postnatal visits.
This review maps what community health workers and nurses did, not proof that these steps reduce deaths.
Key findings
01The review included 17 studies from 12 African countries that covered antenatal, delivery and postnatal care.
02The review grouped 38 antenatal care implementation findings into seven categories: health education for pregnant women, screening, physical examination, Leopold's manoeuvres, health prevention, record-keeping and communication.
03The review grouped 14 postnatal care implementation findings into integrated quality interventions, home visits and advocacy, including maternal checks for bleeding, temperature, blood pressure, wound care and breastfeeding advice.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review looked at planning and implementation processes, not whether any component reduced maternal or newborn mortality. It included only 17 studies from 12 African countries, so it may not apply to other settings. It restricted the search to studies published from 2012 to 2016 and in English. The included studies used different designs and settings, and community health worker roles varied across countries. Many maternal and newborn care components were delivered together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. The review was part of the first author's PhD work and was presented as a poster.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that community health worker programmes reduce maternal or newborn deaths. The review maps what was planned and implemented, not tested effects on mortality.