Implementation of the Afya conditional cash transfer intervention to retain women in the continuum of care: a mixed-methods process evaluation

Abstract

Objectives: We report the results of a mixed-methods process evaluation that aimed to provide insight on the Afya conditional cash transfer (CCT) intervention fidelity and acceptability.

Intervention, setting and participants: The Afya CCT intervention aimed to retain women in the continuum of maternal healthcare including antenatal care (ANC), delivery at facility and postnatal care (PNC) in Siaya County, Kenya. The cash transfers were delivered using an electronic card reader system at health facilities. It was evaluated in a trial that randomised 48 health facilities to intervention or control, and which found modest increases in attendance for ANC and immunisation appointments, but little effect on delivery at facility and PNC visits.

Design: A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted. We used the Afya electronic portal with recorded visits and payments, and reports on use of the electronic card reader system from each healthcare facility to assess fidelity. Focus group interviews with participants (N=5) and one-on-one interviews with participants (N=10) and healthcare staff (N=15) were conducted to assess the acceptability of the intervention. Data analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis, as appropriate.

Results: Delivery of the Afya CCT intervention was negatively affected by problems with the electronic card reader system and a decrease in adherence to its use over the intervention period by healthcare staff, resulting in low implementation fidelity. Acceptability of cash transfers in the form of mobile transfers was high for participants. Initially, the intervention was acceptable to healthcare staff, especially with respect to improvements in attaining facility targets for ANC visits. However, acceptability was negatively affected by significant delays linked to the card reader system.

Conclusions: The findings highlight operational challenges in delivering the Afya CCT intervention using the Afya electronic card reader system, and the need for greater technology readiness before further scale-up.

Trial registration number: NCT03021070.

Keywords: Community child health; Maternal medicine; PUBLIC HEALTH.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests, aside from AC who is associate editor of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.

Figures

Figure 1

Cumulative planned and completed payments made to participants among the subset with clinic book data available. The black curve shows money due while the blue and green lines indicate total money paid and money paid through the intended automated M-Pesa system linked to the Afya portal, respectively. The dotted line shows data of last enrolment of a participant, and the dashed line indicates latest recorded date of delivery in the group. (A) Payments made in intervention facilities by date; (B) Payments made in intervention facilities by time relative to delivery (C) Payments made in control facilities by date; (D) Payments made in control facilities by time relative to delivery.