Study Protocol for a Randomized Health and Social Literacy Intervention to Improve Maternal Health in Pakistan

Authors

  • Sara Rizvi Jafree (PhD) Department of Sociology, Forman Christian College University, Lahore – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5141-1107
  • Humna Ahsan (PhD) Department of Economics, Forman Christian College University, Lahore – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0067-995X
  • Rubeena Zakar (PhD) Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9546-3742
  • Anam Muzamill (PhD) Department of Mass Communication, Forman Christian College University, Lahore – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0191-9970
  • Syeda Khadija Burhan Department of Education, Forman Christian College University, Lahore – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-8900
  • Ambreen Javed (PhD) Department of English, Forman Christian College University, Lahore – Pakistan
  • Rana Rubab Durrani Center for Language Development, Forman Christian College University, Lahore – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0991-0807
  • Florian Fischer (PhD) Institute of Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin – Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4388-1245

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48112/aessr.v4i4.905

Abstract

Abstract Views: 758

Many poor and illiterate women in reproductive years in Pakistan live in underdeveloped areas and are solely dependent on free primary health services provided by the state through the Lady Health Worker (LHW) Programme. These women need higher health and social literacy to make informed health decisions and receive inferior services from overburdened LHWs. This project aims to deliver a health and social literacy intervention by integrating Community Social Workers (CSWs) at the primary level to promote maternal health in the country. A 24-month intervention with six health and social literacy modules will be delivered by trained CSWs. Multistage randomized sampling will be used to sample 6 BHUs across six cities from six districts of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 360 women will be sampled and assigned randomly to the experiment and control groups. Pakistan needs to catch up on its sustainable development goals for maternal health, not just due to the limitations of the existing services, but also due to the low health and social literacy of women, which prevents effective uptake. Each LHW is expected to have an estimated 1,500 women clients for multiple services, which makes support for women’s literacy and awareness difficult. Integrating a partner workforce or CSWs to support disadvantaged women for improved maternal health outcomes is critically needed. The results of this intervention will advise policymakers and stakeholders about long-term plans for literacy support of women and the integration of CSWs in the primary healthcare setup.

Keywords:

Community social workers, Health literacy, Lady health worker, Maternal health, Primary healthcare, Social literacy

Author Biographies

Sara Rizvi Jafree (PhD),

She is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology, Forman Christian College University in Lahore – Pakistan.  She obtained her Post-Doc Degree in Social Policy from the University of Oxford in Oxford – United Kingdom.

Humna Ahsan (PhD),

She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, Forman Christian College University in Lahore – Pakistan.  She obtained her Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of Manchester in Manchester – England.

Rubeena Zakar (PhD),

She is a professor at the Department of Public Health and Director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab in Lahore – Pakistan. She obtained her Doctorate in Public Health from Bielefeld University in Bielefeld – Germany.

Anam Muzamill (PhD),

She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mass Communication, Forman Christian College University in Lahore – Pakistan.  She obtained her Doctorate Degree in Communication Studies from University of the Punjab in Lahore – Pakistan.

Syeda Khadija Burhan,

She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Education, Forman Christian College University in Lahore – Pakistan.  She obtained her M.Phil.  Degree in Education from the University of Education in Lahore – Pakistan.

Ambreen Javed (PhD),

She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of English, Forman Christian College University in Lahore – Pakistan.  She obtained her Doctorate Degree in Linguistics from Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi – Pakistan.  

Rana Rubab Durrani,

She is a Lecturer at the Center for Language Development, Forman Christian College University in Lahore – Pakistan. She obtained her Master’s Degree in TESOL from Beaconhouse National University in Lahore – Pakistan.  

Florian Fischer (PhD),

She is a Lecturer at the Institute of Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Berlin – Germany. She obtained her Post-Doc Degree in Public Health from Bielefeld University in Bielefeld – Germany.

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2024-11-30

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Jafree, S. R., Ahsan, H., Zakar, R., Muzamill, A., Burhan, S. K., Javed, A., … Fischer, F. (2024). Study Protocol for a Randomized Health and Social Literacy Intervention to Improve Maternal Health in Pakistan. Academy of Education and Social Sciences Review, 4(4), 643–655. https://doi.org/10.48112/aessr.v4i4.905

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Vol. 4 No. 4 (2024)

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Study Protocols

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