Smart Discharges for Mom & Baby

This study aims to build a predictive algorithm that identifies mother-newborn dyads most at risk of death or complications in the 6 weeks after birth. The investigators will conduct a multi-site cohort study with 7,000 dyads in Uganda and engage with local stakeholders (e.g., patients, healthcare workers, and health policy-makers) to develop an evidence-based bundle of interventions that address key practice gaps and the critical factors leading to death and complications in these dyads. In the investigator's epidemiological study of post-delivery post-discharge outcomes in 3,236 dyads in Uganda (2017-2020), results indicated that most newborn and maternal readmissions were due to infectious illness (i.e. sepsis, surgical site infections, malaria), and primarily occurred early in the post-discharge period. Thus, the focus of this study will be identifying interventions that target these common and early outcomes, for both mothers and newborns, using WHO recommendations, patient and caregiver experiences, and stakeholder recommendations. If successful, results will inform the next steps of this project, which is the external validation of the model and clinical evaluation of a personalized approach to improving health outcomes and health-seeking behaviour for mothers and newborns.

Inclusion Criteria:Women and adolescent girls aged 12 and above delivering a single or multiple babies at the study hospital during the active recruitment phase.Exclusion Criteria:Inability, for whatever reason, to provide informed consent.Language barrierMother is from a refugee campMother has no access to phone or other means for follow-upMother lives outside of hospital catchment area