The role of the parents’ perception of the postpartum period and knowledge of maternal mortality in uptake of postnatal care: a qualitative exploration in Malawi

Figures & data

Table 1 Description of the focus groups

	Descriptions of the groups
	Focus group 1	Focus group 2	Focus group 3	Focus group 4
Location	Malenga	Chikho	Kusakula	Chikho
Sex of participants	Female	Male	Female	Female
Number of participants	12	14	12	12

Table 2 Part of the focus group guide (translated) that was used during data collection

General maternal health issues

a) What are the main causes of maternal mortality? What about infant mortality? (ranking required)

b) What is the most likely period in which women die due to maternal complications? For example the most dangerous period (ranking required) and explain why.

c) What are things which can be done to reduce maternal and infant mortality?

d) Are there interventions that communities are doing to prevent maternal/infant mortality and morbidity. Explain them.

e) What are specific factors that encourage/discourage men and women from participating or seeking the interventions above?

Postpartum care (PPC)

a) Cultural beliefs usually interact with health behaviors. Would you share some of the beliefs associated with the postpartum period?

b) What are some of the health problems that might arise after delivery?

c) What are some of the needs of women during postpartum period?

d) What is the importance of health care, in particular during PPC period?

e) Can you briefly explain about the type of care you (or your wife) received after giving birth at the hospital? What about in the community?

f) What was good and not so good about each type of care you (or she) received?

g) What are the main barriers to postpartum care?

Family planning (FP)

a) Is family planning important? To who? Explain?

b) Whose responsibility is family planning?

c) When is the right time for a woman (or a man) to go for contraception?

d) What is the most preferred FP method here? Explain why.

e) Where do you access family planning services?

f) What are the main barriers to family planning?

g) What is the role of men in family planning?

Community role

a) What kind of PPC is provided to women who deliver in the community?

b) How are communities involved in the delivery of PPC and FP services?

c) What are the roles of community health workers eg, health surveillance assistants (community health workers), traditional birth attendants, during PPC.

Table 3 Characteristics of the participants

	Men		Women
	Number	%	Number	%
Married	14	100	36	100
Beyond primary education	2	14	3	8
Subsistence farmers	14	100	36	100
Lives at least 1-hour’s distance from the hospital	12	86	26	72