Table 6 Recruitment strategy for study participants

Mothers

Quantitative data will be collected from all consenting mothers who give birth in selected/participating facilities during the five data collection periods. Pregnant women coming to the facilities for their ANC visit will be provided with an information sheet so they can learn about the study. Providers will also refer women coming to give birth to the study staff so they can find out more about the study. Investigators will provide information, assess the eligibility of the women, and obtain consent before they give birth. If this is not possible, eligibility and consent will be obtained after birth. A subset of mothers giving birth in intervention facilities will also be asked to participate in the quarterly qualitative assessment prior to discharge. We will use data obtained from that quantitative survey in intervention facilities to select women who did and did not have birth companions, who had different types of birth companions (male/female, partner/non-partner, family member/non-family member) as well as those that were and were not satisfied with the experience of care.

Birth companions

Mothers recruited for the quarterly qualitative assessment will be asked if they had a birth companion. If present, investigators will approach the birth companions for recruitment into the study.

Providers

Study investigators will work with the facility directors or their designees in intervention facilities to identify providers working in the ANC, labor, and birth wards. Once identified, they will be approached and screened for the quarterly FGDs.

Unit managers

Study investigators will work with the facility directors or their designees in intervention facilities to identify unit managers from the ANC, labor, and birth wards. Investigators will approach unit managers and screen them for the quarterly KIIs.