Identifying anticipated challenges when implementing group care: Context-analyses across seven countries to develop...

Area of Science:

• Perinatal health
• Healthcare implementation science
• Global health initiatives

Background:

• Group Care is an evidence-based perinatal care model with advantages over individual care.
• Despite growing interest, implementing Group Care globally presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify anticipated challenges in implementing Group Care worldwide.
• To develop a supporting tool, the Anticipated Challenges Framework, based on identified challenges.

Main Methods:

• Rapid Qualitative Inquiries were conducted across 26 sites in seven countries.
• Data involved 330 interviews, 10 focus groups, and 56 review meetings, employing data and investigator triangulation.

Main Results:

• Six surface structure challenges (content, materials, facilitators, timing, location, group composition) and five deep structure challenges (health assessment, scheduling, enrolment, partnerships, financials) were identified.
• These challenges were observed across all participating sites, informing the development of the Anticipated Challenges Framework.

Conclusions:

• The Anticipated Challenges Framework enhances awareness of potential barriers to sustainable Group Care implementation.
• Applying this framework can guide action planning, inform health system administrators, and promote cost-effective, sustainable Group Care adoption.