Using Human-Centered Design to Co-Create and Test an Integrated Group Postpartum and Well-Child Care Model in Malawi

Persistently elevated rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidities in Malawi indicate the need for increased quality of maternal and well-child care services. The first-year postpartum sets the stage for long-term health for the childbearing parent and infant. Innovative strategies are needed to advance care models that integrate and address both maternal and infant health and health-related social needs. Integrated group postpartum and well-child care offers a promising strategy to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in Malawi and address social determinants of health. The purpose of this work was to use human-centered design (HCD) to adapt an established program and co-design an integrated group postpartum and well-child care model and evaluate its implementation outcomes in Blantyre District, Malawi. We found that this integrated group postpartum and well-child care model is a potentially transformative approach to a neglected area of the care continuum by integrating maternal health into well-child care to meet the needs of Malawian women and infants during the postpartum period.