Esnath Kapito

• Doctor of Midwifery
• Research project Coordinator and Lecturer at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Background Globally, alarmingly high rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity persist. A constellation of health system and social factors contribute to this, including poor quality and barriers to accessing health care, including preventive services. As such, there have been calls for a redesign of maternal and child health (MCH) servi...

Background We developed and tested a Centering-based group antenatal (ANC) model in Malawi, integrating health promotion for HIV prevention and mental health. We present effectiveness data and examine congruence with the only Group ANC theory of change model, which identifies key processes as supportive relationships, empowered partners in learning...

Background There is critical need to strengthen the global nursing and midwifery workforce. This is especially true in Malawi where they are the primary providers of obstetric and neonatal care. In Neno district, Malawi, in 2017, we implemented an intensive training and longitudinal bedside mentorship intervention for nurses and midwives. From ince...

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 addr...

There are over 100 million pregnancies in low and middle income countries (LMICs) each year, and each pregnant person has a right to high-quality antenatal care (ANC).1 Coverage of four or more ANC contacts is only 68%, far short of the global target of 90% by 2030.2 Underutilisation of ANC limits opportunities to improve outcomes. Group care is co...

Background Responsive and resilient strategies to reduce high rates of maternal and infant mortality and clinician shortages are needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Malawi has some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates globally. Group healthcare is a service delivery model that integrates these strategies. Although prim...

Background Early behavioral intervention to promote development is recommended as the standard of care for preterm infants, yet is not provided in Malawi. One such intervention is H-HOPE (Hospital to Home: Optimizing the Premature Infant’s Environment). In US studies, H-HOPE increased mother-preterm infant responsivity at 6-weeks corrected age (CA)...

Background: 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. Integrated group postpartum and well-child care may improve matern...

Background 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. Integrated group postpartum and well-child care may improve maternal...

The positive effects of the CenteringPregnancy group antenatal care (ANC) model on perinatal outcomes in the United States has led to its adaptation and implementation in many low‐ and middle‐income countries. Facilitative discussions are a core component of this group ANC model. Facilitator training lays a critical foundation for delivery of this...

Background. Responsive and resilient strategies to reduce the high rates of maternal and infant mortality and clinician shortages are needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Malawi has some of highest maternal and infant mortality rates globally. Group-based healthcare is one such strategy to improve maternal and child health outcomes....

Background HIV testing at antenatal care (ANC) is critical to achieving zero new infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Although most women are tested at ANC, they remain at risk for HIV exposure and transmission to their infant when their partners are not tested. This study evaluates how an HIV-enhanced and Centering-based group ANC model-Group ANC+ th...

Aim To determine the rate and types of unreported maternal and neonatal complications in a rural community hospital in Malawi. Background The problem of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality may be underestimated, with underreporting of complications often noted. Reliable data is needed to make key decisions at the local, district, and nat...

Objective To examine whether group prenatal care (PNC) increased key services and educational topics women reported receiving, compared with individual PNC in Malawi and Tanzania. Methods Data come from a previously published randomized trial (n=218) and were collected using self‐report surveys. Late pregnancy surveys asked whether women received...

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest rates of maternal and perinatal mortality and accounts for two-thirds of new HIV infections and 25% of preterm births. Antenatal care, as the entry point into the health system for many women, offers an opportunity to provide life-saving monitoring, health promotion, and health system linkages...

Postpartum contraception has some ambiguities in terms of its definition and period. The purpose of this concept analysis is to clarify postpartum contraception in terms of its attributes, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents. This can be used in the development of a model for care that promotes the use of postpartum contraception Walk...

Background Nurses are expected to provide comprehensive, holistic and ethically accepted care according to their code of ethics and practice. However, in Malawi, this is not always the case. This article analyses moral competence concept using the Walker and Avant's strategy of concept analysis. Objective The aim of this article is to analyse mora...

Malawi has a maternal mortality rate of 675/100 000 with. 85% of the population living in rural areas. To reduced maternal mortality in Malawi, the government prioritised midwifery training. Therefore, a community midwifery module was developed by Kamuzu College of Nursing as part of their Bachelor of Science Nursing and Midwifery (BSCNM) programme...