Table 2 Discussion group and key informant questions

Definitions

Gestation

What is the normal length of pregnancy?

How does a woman know when she is due?

Preterm birth

When is a baby born too soon?

What if a woman has pains months before the due date?

Viability/neonatal mortality

What is the earliest age in pregnancy that a baby can survive?

What is the lowest weight a baby can survive? What do most babies weigh if they are term? Preterm or born too soon?

Epidemiology, Etiology and Risk Association

Preterm birth prevalence

How common is preterm birth in Malawi?

Do you know women who have had a baby born too soon?

Preterm birth etiology/explanatory models

What are causes of preterm birth?

What are causes of early labor pains? Vaginal bleeding?

Oral health

What is usual tooth and oral health care?

How do most women receive oral health care? In pregnancy?

Infrastructure and Access to Care

Antenatal care

When do most women come for antenatal care?

Why do some women not come for antenatal care?

Preterm birth care

What can health facilities do if a woman presents with preterm contractions? Do women go to a health facility with preterm labor?

Have you heard of medicines to make a baby’s lungs mature early (steroids) or ways to prevent PTB (progesterone or cerclage)?

If available, how might women prefer to take a medication to prevent preterm birth (daily vaginal suppository versus weekly intramuscular injection)?

Delivery site

Where do women go first if they have preterm labor or bleeding?

Where are women referred if they have preterm labor or need treatment because a baby is born too soon?

Openness and Acceptability of New Concepts or Potential Preventions/Interventions

New concepts

What if I told you that there was an association between preterm birth and oral health/gum/periodontal disease? Would you believe me?

New approaches

Would women in Malawi chew gum? Eat mints or candies?