ABSTRACT
Background: Several health interventions have been put in place to improve pregnancy
outcomes all over the world including Ghana. One of such interventions was the
Community Pregnancy School (C-Press) strategy, which was implemented by Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) in the Nabdam district from 2014 to 2016 as part of the Rural
Emergency Health Services and Transport (REST) project to improve maternal and child
health.
Objective: This study assessed the impact of the pregnancy school strategy on pregnancy
outcomes and home deliveries in the Nabdam district.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study design with retrospective records review of 769
women was used out of which 398 of them benefited from the pregnancy school
(intervention group) and 371 did not benefit from the pregnancy (control group ). Data
extraction tool was used to collect data on study participants and analysed using Stata
version 15. Pearson’s Chi square test of association was used to determine the association
between dependent and independent variables whilst t-test was used to compare the mean
difference in Hb levels at 36 weeks and mean birth weight among the intervention and
control groups. Also, Propensity Score Matching procedures with nearest neighbour as
well other sensitivity analysis were used in determining the impact of the pregnancy
school intervention on anaemia in pregnancy.
Results: The study found that the impact of the pregnancy school was 34% reduced risk of
anaemia at 36 weeks among the intervention group [95% CI: 21-46, p<0.001]. This
resulted in a mean Hb difference of 0.71g/dl between the two groups. The proportion of
home delivery was also less (0.3%) in the intervention group compared to 7.5% in the
control group whilst the prevalence of low birth weight was 5.2% in the intervention group
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compared to 17.5% in the control group [95% CI: 10.17-10.62; p-value <0.001]. The mean
birth weight of those in the intervention group was 116g higher than the control group.
[95% CI: 56-176; p<0.001]
Conclusion: The pregnancy school had a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes and
skilled delivery in the Nabdam district. There is therefore the need to scale up the project
to other communities to improve maternal and child health.
Eastern Network, L (2021). Assessment Of The Impact Of Pregnancy School On Pregnancy Outcomes And Skilled Delivery In Nabdam District Of Upper East Region. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/assessment-of-the-impact-of-pregnancy-school-on-pregnancy-outcomes-and-skilled-delivery-in-nabdam-district-of-upper-east-region
Library, Eastern Network. "Assessment Of The Impact Of Pregnancy School On Pregnancy Outcomes And Skilled Delivery In Nabdam District Of Upper East Region" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 03 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/assessment-of-the-impact-of-pregnancy-school-on-pregnancy-outcomes-and-skilled-delivery-in-nabdam-district-of-upper-east-region . Accessed 16 Apr. 2021.
Library, Eastern Network. "Assessment Of The Impact Of Pregnancy School On Pregnancy Outcomes And Skilled Delivery In Nabdam District Of Upper East Region". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 03 Apr. 2021. Web. 16 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/assessment-of-the-impact-of-pregnancy-school-on-pregnancy-outcomes-and-skilled-delivery-in-nabdam-district-of-upper-east-region >.
Library, Eastern Network. "Assessment Of The Impact Of Pregnancy School On Pregnancy Outcomes And Skilled Delivery In Nabdam District Of Upper East Region" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 16, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/assessment-of-the-impact-of-pregnancy-school-on-pregnancy-outcomes-and-skilled-delivery-in-nabdam-district-of-upper-east-region