Ethiopia Group Antenatal Care Study at the Health Post Level

Evaluation of the Feasibility, Acceptability and Impact of Group-based Antenatal Care at the Health Post Level on Continuation in Antenatal Care and Facility-based Delivery in Amhara, Ethiopia Using a Cluster Randomized Step-wedge Design

The purpose of this study is to determine the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of a group antenatal care (G-ANC) model introduced at the health post level compared to usual antenatal care (ANC) among women who report intention to receive ANC at the health post level.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Minimum age of 15 years at the time of enrollment; pregnant 15-17 year-olds will be treated as emancipated/mature as per local regulations
• Gestational age less than or equal to 20 weeks at the time of enrollment determined by last menstrual period (LMP), pelvic exam, fundal height, quickening, ultrasound, and/or timing of fetal heart tones and pregnancy test
• Pregnant women able and willing to provide adequate locator information
• Planning to reside at their current location for at least 10 months
• Agree to participate in the study and continue ANC at health post
• Willing to participate and consent to follow up for up to 6 weeks post-delivery
• Are willing to receive group antenatal care at the health post level (during the intervention period)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who plan to travel away from the study site for more than four consecutive weeks during ANC or after 6 weeks post-delivery
• Women who are unable provide consent
• Women who have any condition that in the opinion of the investigator or designee, would complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study objectives