title: Behaviour change in perinatal care practices among rural women exposed to a women's group intervention in Nepal [ISRCTN31137309].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A randomised controlled trial of participatory women's groups in rural Nepal previously showed reductions in maternal and newborn mortality. In addition to the outcome data we also collected previously unreported information from the subgroup of women who had been pregnant prior to study commencement and conceived during the trial period. To determine the mechanisms via which the intervention worked we here examine the changes in perinatal care of these women. In particular we use the information to study factors affecting positive behaviour change in pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women's groups focusing on perinatal care were introduced into 12 of 24 study clusters(average cluster population 7000). A total of 5400 women of reproductive age enrolled in the trial had previously been pregnant and conceived during the trial period. For each of four outcomes (attendance at antenatal care; use of a boiled blade to cut the cord; appropriate dressing of the cord; not discarding colostrum) each of these women was classified as BETTER, GOOD, BAD or WORSE to describe whether and how she changed her pre-trial practice. Multilevel multinomial models were used to identify women most responsive to intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those not initially following good practice, women in intervention areas were significantly more likely to do so later for all four outcomes (OR 1.92 to 3.13). Within intervention clusters, women who attended groups were more likely to show a positive change than non-group members with regard to antenatal care utilisation and not discarding colostrum, but non-group members also benefited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's groups promoted significant behaviour change for perinatal care amongst women not previously following good practice. Positive changes attributable to intervention were not restricted to specific demographic subgroups.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street London WC1N 1EH, UK. awade@ich.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osrin
authors.forename: Bhim Prasad
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Kirti Man
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tumbahangphe
authors.forename: Dharma S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Manandhar
authors.forename: Anthony M de L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Costello