Qualitative application of the diffusion of innovation theory to maternity waiting homes in rural Zambia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding factors affecting adoption of an innovation is critical to its long-term success. Maternity waiting homes (MWHs) increase access to facility-based delivery in low-resourced settings; yet, quality issues deter utilization of this innovative approach. We sought to understand how attributes that are thought to promote diffusion of innovations (e.g., relative advantage, compatibility, observability, complexity, etc.) affected MWH use after implementation of an improved quality MWH model in rural Zambia compared to standard of care.

Methods

We conducted 158 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with randomly selected rural-living women who had delivered a baby in the prior 12 months. Half lived in catchment areas where new quality MWHs were constructed, half in catc

SUBMITTER: Kaiser JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11796199 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature