Table 2 Qualitative studies included in the review of the role of social capital on maternal and child health services uptake in LMICs
First author/publication year | Aim(s) and study Design | Country and year of study | Study participants and sample size | Data collection method(s) and analysis | Social capital measures | Description of social capital findings | Limitation(s) of the study identified by the author(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cofie et al., 2018 [51] | Aim: to examine the social network dynamics of all members of women’s social networks during pregnancy and childbirth Design: Phenomenology | Ghana, 2015 | • Mothers (n = 40) • Husbands (n = 20), and • 4 focus group interviews with mothers-in-law | • In-depth interviews (IDIs) • Focus group discussions(FGDs) • Data were analyzed using narrative summaries and thematic coding | Social support and network: Network proximity Frequency of contact Nature of relationships | Social networks contribute in important ways to women’s use of facility-based pregnancy and delivery care | Translation errors, Recall bias, Response bias, Social desirability bias |
Mochache et al., 2020 [52] | Aim: to explore how individual and community-wide factors influenced uptake and utilization of maternal health services Design: Phenomenology | Kenya, 2015 | • Female (pregnant and postpartum) as well as male adult community members • 5 FGDs (N = 47 ) • 15 IDIs(N = 15) | • FGDs stratified by age and gender; 3 among men and 2 among women, • IDIs • A thematic content analytic approach was used | Socio-cultural norms, religious norms and gender stereotypes | Religious and socio-cultural norms as well as gender stereotypes influenced utilization of maternal health services | No limitation information was provided |
Papp et al., 2013 [49] | Aim: to identify the processes and psycho-social pathways through which social accountability can contribute to improvement of maternal health Design: case study | India, 2013 | • Interviews with 4 health providers, • 3 policy-makers and government officials, • 4 media representatives, • 2 representatives from partner, • 2 national, 4 state and district Central Statistical Agency staff, • 1 Accredited social health activist | Interviews and focus groups | Critical consciousness, social capital and ‘receptive social spaces’ to outline a social-psychological account of the pathways between Social accountability and service effectiveness | Three processes that underpin social accountability: (1) generating demand, (2) leveraging intermediaries and (3) sensitizing leaders and health providers to the needs of women. | Focused on the processes and psycho-social pathways underpinning the public hearings |
Raman et al., 2014 [50] | Aim: to explore the wide-ranging sources of support that the maternal–infant dyad need or expect throughout the perinatal period Design: qualitative interviews and ethnographic approach | India, 2008-10 | • 36 mothers from different socio-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds who had given birth within the past two years in a tertiary hospital • 13 participants in group one (low education), • 11 in group two (medium education) and • 12 in group 3 (high education). | • IDIs • Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews • Ethnographic field notes was carried out | • Female networks • Extended family support • Own mother emotional support and advice | 4 themes emerged: • Importance of women’s own mothers • My place • Female support network • Role of husband • The ambivalent role of the family | No limitation information was provided |
Mamo et al., 2019 [48] | Aim: to explore the actual roles, responsibilities, and contribution of different community individuals or groups in promoting ANC, childbirth and early postnatal cares. Design: case study | Ethiopia, 2016 | HEWs, religious leaders, Women Developmental Army leaders, Male Developmental Army leaders and married male and female community members | 12 FGDs and 24 semi-structured IDIs | Social support Provision of continuous support Work as a community-health care system linkages | Offering social support (practical help with routine activities, resources and material goods, emotional support and assurance, nutritional support, and accompaniment) | • Unable to explore information from zonal health officers • Specific distance from a woman’s residence to a health facility were not explicitly accounted in this study • Social desirability bias |
Simkhada et al., 2010 [53] | Aim: to explore the mother-in law’s role in (a) her daughter-in-law’s ANC uptake; and (b) the decision-making process about using ANC services in Nepal. Design: Exploratory qualitative study | Nepal, 2006 | • 30 purposively selected antenatal or postnatal mothers (half users, half non-users of ANC), • 10 husbands and • 10 mothers-in-law in two different (urban and rural) communities | IDIs | Communication and relationships between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law | • Use of ANC is strongly influenced by mothers-in-law’s roles and attitudes • Mothers-in-law appeared to have less influence on ANC uptake if they did not live in the same household as their daughters-in-law | • It was not feasible to include literate mothers-in-law |
Sapkota et al., 2012 [54] | Aim: to explore husbands’ experiences of supporting their wives during childbirth Design: Exploratory qualitative study | Nepal, 2009 | • 12 fathers who had supported their wives during childbirth | IDIs | Husbands helped to be present at the birth. | Despite the unpleasant emotions, a majority of the husbands felt that they were able to support their wives to some extent. | • Husbands in this study are from an urban setting, where people’s educational qualifications and their access to maternity health services are high |