Effect of Sharing Health Messages on Antenatal Care Behavior Through Self Help Groups in India
Bihar state in India has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in South Asia. Walia et al. (2020) measured whether delivering health messages through SHGs in Bihar impacted antenatal care (ANC) behaviors. They surveyed 1,204 SHG members: 597 were from SHGs that received maternal and child health messaging in at least one weekly group meeting per month and 607 were from SHGs that were not exposed to the health intervention. They found that sharing health messages in microfinance-based SHGs is associated with significant increase in ANC practice. Exposure to a health intervention was associated with increased likelihood of at least four ANC visits by SHG women, consumption of iron-folic acid for at least 100 days and complete ANC (at least four ANC visits, two TT injections, IFA supplements for 100 or more days). There was also an increase in ANC accompaniment by SHG members, information on signs of pregnancy and delivery complications and delivery planning. “SHGs are not only a platform to alleviate poverty, but are an efficient and effective model for building social capital through collectivization and cohesion, which play a vital role in the development of marginalized populations.” There were no impacts however on two TT injections or seeking treatment for pregnancy-related complications.