The Maternal and Fetal Health group at Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW) was awarded by NIHR, the SAFE Motherhood grant. The SAFE Motherhood Global Health research group is built upon the collaboration and work of the previous NIHR DIPLOMATIC research group. Our aim is to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Malawi and Zambia, by strengthening the quality of maternity care. The focus of control of this work is here in Malawi, with extensive collaboration with other international partners and researchers. The research work will be delivered through 4 key themes:

Theme 1-Data driving improvement – This theme focuses on:

• WS1: MATSurvey – a digital reporting platform and feedback system for maternal death and near-miss data. The main aim is on sustainability of this as a tool under MoH.
•  WS2: Linking facility based maternity data with established community Demographic Surveillance systems (HDSS)

Theme 2- Placing users at the Centre of change– This theme focuses on:

• WS3: Understanding the experience of vulnerable service users through mixed methods studies. Examples of vulnerable service users include very young adolescents aged 10-14, Street adolescents, mentally ill pregnant and postpartum women, physically disabled pregnant and postpartum women, pregnancy in child-headed homes, pregnancy in early marriage, pregnancy with domestic violence and asylum seekers.

• WS4: Optimise and apply user feedback systems in maternity settings-

Theme 3- Prioritization and co-design– This theme focuses on:

• WS5: Annual prioritisation process- to identify the priority lists from MoH for the programme to focus on in the intervention co-design.
• WS6: Intervention co-design- this follows on a selection of two priority areas from the prioritization meeting.

Theme 4- Implementing and evaluating change– This theme focuses on:

• WS7: Implementation of an “Enhanced Antenatal Care” implementation and evaluation trial in selected facilities.
• WS8: Improving the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in women attending antenatal care
• WS9: Implementation of locally designed quality improvement interventions