Identifying anticipated challenges when implementing group care: Context-analyses across seven countries to develop an anticipated challenges framework

Problem: Despite increasing interest in Group Care worldwide, implementation is challenging.

Background: Group Care is an evidence-based perinatal care model including three core components: health assessment, interactive learning, and community building. It has several advantages for service users and providers compared to individual perinatal care.

Aim: We aimed to identify anticipated challenges when implementing Group Care, and to develop a supporting tool based on these challenges.

Methods: Context analyses through Rapid Qualitative Inquiries were conducted in 26 sites in seven countries to gain insight into the anticipated challenges when implementing Group Care. Data triangulation and investigator triangulation were applied. The context analyses generated 330 semi-structured interviews with service users and other stakeholders, 10 focus group discussions, and 56 review meetings with the research teams.

Findings: We identified six surface structure anticipated challenges categories (content, materials, facilitators, timing, location, group composition), and five deep structure anticipated challenges categories (health assessment, scheduling Group Care into regular care, enrolment, (possible) partner organisations, financials) occurring in all participating sites, leading to the development of the Anticipated Challenges Framework.

Conclusion: Completing the Anticipated Challenges Framework raises awareness of anticipated challenges if sustainable Group Care implementation is to succeed and encourages the initiation of a concrete action plan to tackle these challenges. Application of the framework may offer important insights to health systems administrators and other key stakeholders before implementing Group Care. In the medium- and long-term, insights gained may lead to greater possibilities for sustainability and to the most cost-effective approaches for implementing Group Care.