Population Council Zambia is currently implementing a project called the Antenatal Care Model for Africa and India (NAMAI) Digital Zambia. This study has two phases: first, a formative phase, which seeks to prepare for the second, demonstration phase, by refining tools to the local context.
The overall purpose of the demonstration phase of this study is to use implementation science to systematically introduce and test the applicability of 1) the adapted WHO antenatal care (ANC) package for a positive pregnancy experience, and 2) a new digital tool (WHO digital ANC module—adapted to local settings) at selected service delivery levels. The study will not only generate key evidence on the implementation of the ANC country-adapted package, and the value added by the digital tool, but also inform future national adaptation and scale-up initiatives. By leveraging the power of technology and implementation science, Population Council Zambia is striving to create a better future for vulnerable populations in Africa and India.
The NAMAI project began in October 2020 and is set to end in December 2024. During this period, the objectives of the formative phase include:
- the adaptation and approval of WHO ANC guidelines for a positive pregnancy experience;
- the adaptation and customization of a digital platform based on the Zambia adapted ANC guidelines;
- the development, validation, and testing of the adapted ANC guideline training package; and
- the design and testing of data-collection tools (qualitative and quantitative) as part of implementation research.
Additionally, the demonstration phase objective is to use implementation science to systematically introduce and test the applicability of the adapted WHO antenatal care package for a positive pregnancy experience and a new digital tool (WHO digital ANC module—adapted to local settings) at selected service delivery sites.
