Research Question

What impact does a contextually designed community based educational intervention have on maternal risk factors in remote areas of Myanmar?

Methodology

This inter-disciplinary, multi-regional research project was underpinned by a pragmatic research philosophy. A mixed methods approach was implemented through three bespoke work packages exploring maternal health, emergency obstetric education and social enterprise. Data was collected through surveys, focus groups, interviews, storybooks and community consultations which informed the design of an evidence based. contextually designed meta-educational intervention. Data was collected in seven village tracts per region and two internally displaced people camps across three ethnic regions of Myanmar. The educational intervention was then delivered across two village tracts per region and two internally displaced people camps. The integration of global health, educational and social learning theories allowed for the exploration of cultural and contextual influences on maternal health service provision and education within a conflict setting.

Key Findings

Key findings demonstrated that maternal health education was limited in ethnic regions with greater inequity in remote areas. Barriers included low literacy levels, a lack of culturally relevant and evidence based education as well as a lack of trust in healthcare professionals, particularly in conflict impacted regions. Cultural and contextual information was included into integrated educational resources including maternal health and health promotion, emergency obstetric healthcare and social enterprise and sustainable farming. This integrated participatory approach increased the relevance of the intervention. However, forced displacement reduced equity in maternal health education and healthcare delivery across the regions, leading to greater risks of health inequalities for already vulnerable populations.

Relevance

Culturally and contextually adapted maternal and community health resources implemented through participatory learning approaches may reduce maternal health risk factors in conflict impacted populations and address health inequalities for mother, families and communities.