Quick Facts
- Period
- 2020 - Present
- Coverage
- Borno
- Yobe
- Lagos
- +5 more
- Donor
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Group Antenatal Care (G-ANC)
- Background
In 2016, WHO issued Recommendations on ANC for a Positive Pregnancy Experience, with increased emphasis on the experience of care for women and an updated recommendation for ANC models to include a minimum of eight ANC contacts. Despite increasing levels of ANC coverage, maternal mortality remains very high in Nigeria with minimal shifts in MMR. ANC can only improve health outcomes if provided with quality and women are retained in care.
Programme Overview
Group ANC (G-ANC) is a facility-based alternative service delivery model designed to provide a positive pregnancy experience and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns. The model brings cohorts of 8-15 women with similar gestational age together for 2-hour facilitated sessions that combine medical assessment, participatory learning, and social support.
- Programme Goal
Provide quality antenatal care that improves maternal and newborn health outcomes while creating a positive pregnancy experience through peer support and participatory learning.
Our Approach
- State-contextualized manuals, pictorial cards, job aids, and cohort calendars
- Low-dose, high-frequency (LDHF) trainings
- Flexible cohort size (typically 8-15, adaptable 5-20 in Low/High Volume Facilities)
- Use of color-indicator digital BP devices to support self-assessment
- Leveraging DRF and BHCPF to ensure commodity availability
Key Components
Birth Preparedness Clinical Assessment Integration Cohort Formation & Peer Support Participatory Learning Sessions Postpartum Planning Self-Care & Monitoring
Key Achievements
- Implementation across 7 states in multiple phases (2020-Present)
- Over 1,041,459 pregnant women enrolled
- Policy updates to include G-ANC as alternative ANC model
- Integration into state Annual Operational Plans (AOPs)
- Budgetary allocation by states for equipment and supplies procurement
- 93% facility delivery rate among participants
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