Assessing the impact of timely antenatal care on maternal and newborn health using a novel computational model

ongoing

High quality antenatal care (ANC) can significantly reduce global maternal and newborn mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently monitors the implementation of its new ANC model using the indicator of four or more ANC visits, but this approach has limitations, notably its failure to consider the timing of ANC interventions. Timing is critical, as many interventions are most effective when started early in pregnancy, which is often not the case in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where women frequently initiate ANC late. InTime addresses this challenge by developing an innovative model based on evidence synthesis of randomised controlled trials on the impact of timing of key antenatal interventions on their effectiveness. The model integrates this data in the coverage of the interventions in 81 “Countdown to 2030 priority countries”, and further links it with health system readiness to deliver the modelled service, estimated using existing data from nationally representative health facility assessments in LMICs. For maximum impact, InTime implements the findings through a computational tool that has a world-wide coverage and is widely used by global organisations and governments to estimate the impact of scaling up maternal and child health interventions in LMICs. By quantifying the impact of untimely ANC on maternal and neonatal mortality in Countdown to 2030 priority countries, and making this data freely available globally, InTime will assist health policy makers and programme implementers in LMICs to analyse the quality and equity of ANC, locate ANC implementation bottlenecks, evaluate the effectiveness of new innovations for delivering ANC, and target valuable resources to where they are needed most, thus ultimately contributing to saving lives. The results will be broadly communicated through open access and open peer reviewed articles, and targeted high-level consultations with health policy makers, including WHO and the World Bank.