Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care: The EmONC Trial

Maternal death, stillbirth, early neonatal death, and obstetric fistula are among the most devastating adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Existing interventions could avert the majority of maternal and neonatal deaths; however, those women at greatest risk are least likely to have access to interventions delivered through the formal health care system. In many developing countries, most deliveries in rural areas and a significant number in urban areas are conducted at home without skilled attendance, circumstances which pose a high risk for both mothers and their neonates. The EmONC trial is designed to evaluate a comprehensive intervention encompassing community mobilization to establish and sustain mechanisms of transport and payment and to drive client-oriented emergency obstetrical and neonatal care. The intervention includes teaching recognition of prolonged labor, infection, preeclampsia and hemorrhage, and the use of appropriate stabilization methods by all community birth attendants. In addition, poor access to quality emergency obstetric and neonatal care in a sustainable manner will be addressed. To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach, a cluster-randomized trial is required to assess whether Cluster EmONC teams can work with the community and health care system to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes in diverse settings where the majority of deliveries occur at home or at a health clinic with few or no available EmONC interventions. To accomplish the intervention, a train-the-trainer approach will be used. Master trainers will facilitate central and regional training sessions for Country trainers organized around the areas of community mobilization; birth attendant skills; and EmONC referral facility improvements. The Country trainers will then support training and related activities in the intervention clusters, predominantly focusing on these three areas. The study population includes pregnant women (and their neonates) living and delivering in the 108 study clusters. The study clusters are largely rural, geographically distinct communities, each of which have approximately 300 annual deliveries. The women will be enrolled at or after 20 weeks gestation and followed to 42 days post delivery. The total duration of the trial will be 24 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Pregnant women living in and/or delivering within the study cluster
• Consent provided

Exclusion criteria

Eligible pregnant women who do not consent