WORK PACKAGES

WP1

Coordination, project management structure and procedures

Led by: TNO

Objectives

To ensure achievement of the objectives of the project through effective and efficient management, financial control and administrative work of the project. Any discrepancies will be swiftly reported to the Commission.
To coordinate a well-functioning and effective research consortium that consists of scientists from different disciplines as well as local partners and patients/clients representatives.
To ensure scientific excellence, innovation and efficient implementation.
To network and collaborate with other related consortia, projects and networks Worldwide.
To provide evaluation reports to the Commission as required.

WP2

Situational analyses

Led by: LUMC

Overall objective of this WP is to provide evidence, contextual relevant information and recommendations for country and site-specific adaptions of the content, delivery and implementation strategies of existing models of group-based care. This will support the successful implementation of group-based care during the first 1000 days. Recommendations will focus on 1) newly implementing group-based care (Ghana, South Africa, Kosovo), 2) expanding existing pregnancy group-based care to baby and mother groups after pregnancy (Suriname, The Netherlands), and 3) tailoring it to deprived neighbourhoods (The Netherlands, Belgium, UK).

Objectives

To identify in each country population specific medical and psycho-social needs of women and families during the first 1000 days
To identify in each country impeding and facilitating factors for the implementation of group-based care in the first 1000 days
To provide guidance and recommendations for adaptation and implementation strategies of existing models of group-based care for each country/site

WP3

Adaptation strategies to implement group care

Led by: VUB

Objectives

The objective of WP3 is to develop adaptations strategies necessary to implement group care in the 7 countries. These will be distinguished between surface and deep structure adaptations; based on the model of cultural sensitivity. WP3 builds on insights of WP2 and will put forward the development of the implementation protocols in WP4 and the blueprint for scaling up in WP6.

Identification of the adaptations necessary to implement group care in the 7 specific country settings
adaptations regarding content of care: clinical/medical aspects
adaptations regarding the context: current ways of providing health promotion and psycho-social care
adaptations regarding cultural modifications, in order to include vulnerable groups
Development of adaptation strategies
surface adaptation plan for each country to be carried out in WP4
structural adaptation plan for each country to be carried out in WP4
recommendations regarding the development of adaption strategies for the blueprint to scale up (WP6)

WP4

Implementing Group Care in 7 countries

Led by: GCG

The overall objective of this wp is to guide and support timely implementation and sustaining of specific group care protocols (antenatal, postnatal+) in demonstration sites in seven countries, with high fidelity to the components of group care and adaptations for key context-specific factors identified by WP2 and WP3. Implementation within and across sites will be attentive to the evaluation (WP5) needs from the outset. Implementation will focus on building the infrastructure need to sustain and scale-up group care in each setting (WP6).

Objectives:

To participate in the collaborative development of demonstration site group care protocols, with WP2, WP3, and each country advisory group;
To create a detailed workplan with the steering committee at each demonstration site and conduct an initial on-site training of group care facilitators;
To support and guide in-country implementation through on-going consultation to address system challenges, build facilitator skills, and ensure fidelity to the group care model;
To support sustainability and scale-up through advanced training focused on addressing implementation and sustainability challenges and skill-building for master trainers

WP5

Evaluation

Led by: CITY

Aim: To evaluate the reach, implementation and outcomes, of group prenatal and mother-infant care in various contexts and settings as well as examine the costs-effectiveness and the prospects for sustainable continuation of implementation in respective countries.

Objectives:

To provide oversight and management of the overall evaluation process, including refinement of design, methods and tools, ethical and other approvals, appointment of researchers, regular WP meetings and local site evaluation meetings, training and support for researchers where needed;
To develop an analytic description of the implementation context in each country in order to understand how context may shape the implementation and impact of group care and the local adaptations required and enacted to ensure both fidelity and sensitivity to local health system, organisation, community and individual requirements;
To identify the factors contributing to effective implementation in the study sites and draw out lessons for sustainable implementation and integration across national and local settings;
To explore and identify experiences of women, families and communities and those of maternity care services and providers using GC and assess the potential benefits (or unintended consequences) in different health system, socio-economic and cultural contexts;
To assess cost-effectiveness of Group Care as compared to traditional models of care.
To develop Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome models for each setting to enable synthesis of the overall evaluation and contribute to the blueprints for implementation and scale-up of GC across different national settings.

WP6

Development of blueprints for implementation and scale-up

Led by: UCT/AMC

The overall objective of this WP is to inform the implementation and scale-up of antenatal and baby-parenting group care in seven participating countries through the development of country-specific blueprints, and to develop an implementation toolbox for the adaptation, implementation, and scale-up of group care in similar country contexts.

Objectives

To develop country-specific blueprints to support and inform the scale-up of group antenatal and baby-parenting group care, informed by in-country experiences of the implementation n of these interventions
To develop an implementation toolbox to support strategy development for the scale-up of group care in similar country contexts

WP7

Dissemination and Communication

Led by: TNO

The objective of this WP is to maximise the scale-up of group antenatal and postnatal+ care in the research counties and globally through effective dissemination and communication activities highlighting the project goals and achievements and facilitating a web-based platform for shared learning.

Objectives:

Develop and update the dissemination and communication plan
Develop dissemination tools and implement the dissemination strategy defined in the plan
Develop communication tools and implement the communication strategy defined in the plan

WP8

ETHICS REQUIREMENTS

Led by: TNO

Objective:

To fulfill the ethics requirements