Topic | Discussion group and key informant questions |
---|---|
Definitions | |
Gestation | What is the normal length of pregnancy? |
How does a woman know when she is due? | |
Preterm birth | When is a baby born too soon? |
What if a woman has pains months before the due date? | |
Viability/neonatal mortality | What is the earliest age in pregnancy that a baby can survive? |
What is the lowest weight a baby can survive? What do most babies weigh if they are term? Preterm or born too soon? | |
Epidemiology, Etiology and Risk Association | |
Preterm birth prevalence | How common is preterm birth in Malawi? |
Do you know women who have had a baby born too soon? | |
Preterm birth etiology/explanatory models | What are causes of preterm birth? |
What are causes of early labor pains? Vaginal bleeding? | |
Oral health | What is usual tooth and oral health care? |
How do most women receive oral health care? In pregnancy? | |
Infrastructure and Access to Care | |
Antenatal care | When do most women come for antenatal care? |
Why do some women not come for antenatal care? | |
Preterm birth care | What can health facilities do if a woman presents with preterm contractions? Do women go to a health facility with preterm labor? |
Have you heard of medicines to make a baby’s lungs mature early (steroids) or ways to prevent PTB (progesterone or cerclage)? | |
If available, how might women prefer to take a medication to prevent preterm birth (daily vaginal suppository versus weekly intramuscular injection)? | |
Delivery site | Where do women go first if they have preterm labor or bleeding? |
Where are women referred if they have preterm labor or need treatment because a baby is born too soon? | |
Openness and Acceptability of New Concepts or Potential Preventions/Interventions | |
New concepts | What if I told you that there was an association between preterm birth and oral health/gum/periodontal disease? Would you believe me? |
New approaches | Would women in Malawi chew gum? Eat mints or candies? |