A Cluster Randomized Evaluation of the Effects of Group Pre and Postnatal Care on Women’s Autonomy and Immediate Post Partum Family Planning (Ppfp) Adoption the Kula Da Juna Model in Maradi, Niger

Nouroudine Aboubacar Chaibou, Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour le Développement (GRADE Africa)
Sarah Jane Holcombe, OASIS - Sahel
Nouhou AbdoulMoumouni, GRADE Africa
Alisha Graves, The OASIS Initiative
Zakari Nakaballé Chetima, GRADE Africa
Kadidia KARIMOU, GRADE Africa

In Niger’s context of high fertility and maternal and infant mortality, delivering empowering care to women in the postpartum period is critical to improving life and health outcomes. Immediate Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP) helps women avoid closely spaced pregnancies and ensures better health for themselves and their babies. A promising strategy for expanding quality access to immediate PPFP is through group prenatal care. This study in Maradi, Niger, contrasts the effectiveness and efficiency of the Kula da Juna (KDJ) group pre- and postnatal care model compared to the traditional individual care model in government health centers with respect to women’s increased use of PPFP and women’s autonomy. Descriptive bivariate analysis (Chi-square tests) of the baseline study sample of 809 women attending 20 government health centers for their first prenatal visit reveals generally comparable intervention (KDJ) and control groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using the difference-in-differences (“DiD”) method will be conducted at intervention completion. We will show whether the KDJ group care model offers promise for Niger and for other resource-limited health systems in sub-Saharan Africa to improve or equalize prenatal and postnatal outcomes, as well as to strengthen women’s empowerment, potentially at lower costs to women and to health systems.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender Dynamics, Family Planning and Contraception

See extended abstract.