Can Village Health Volunteers/Workers Working As Male-Female Pairs Improve the Use of Postnatal Care Services in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

University of the Ryukyus302 enrolled

Overview

The study aims to assess the effectiveness of male-female VHV/Ws working in pairs on women's uptake of second PNC visits in rural Sepone, Lao PDR. Methods A quasi-experimental cluster study will be conducted between July 2024 and October 2026 in 37 selected sites from two districts in southern Lao PDR. In 19 selected intervention villages in the Sepone district, female-male VHV/Ws pairs will promote postpartum services, whereas, in 18 similar control villages in the Vilabuly district, VHV/Ws will work as individuals.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

302

Conditions

Pregnant Women Lactating Mother

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 15 YearsMax age: 49 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Women who gave birth within six weeks and twelve months before the study's baseline and end-line surveys. Exclusion Criteria: * Women whose births resulted in a loss, * Women who do consent to participate in the surveys * Women who face a language barrier with surveyors will not be enrolled.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Uptake of second postnatal care visit

Second postnatal visit within 6 weeks after delivery in a health facility reported in maternal and child health handbook

Time frame: 6 weeks after delivery

Secondary Outcomes

Lenght of facility-based postpartum stay

Number of hours of stay in health facility after delivery

Time frame: cutoff is 12 hours