PURPOSE:
Poor quality of antenatal care (content and delivery) has been identified as inequitable and a root factor in avoidable adverse experiences and outcomes for mothers and babies. Traditional clinics leave many feeling isolated, poorly informed and disempowered. Group antenatal care (gANC) is a responsive, relational model of care which offers transformative change, shown to improve experiences and outcomes, especially for high-risk groups. In gANC 6-12 women of similar gestation come together for 8-10 two-hour group sessions facilitated by health providers (usually midwives). Interactive activities, facilitated discussions, self-checking, short one-to-one assessments and continuity build trust and facilitate health education, informed choice and community-building. gANC has been implemented in 30 countries but is not yet standard care. One challenge is that midwives need to learn group facilitation skills to manage socially, clinically and linguistically diverse groups, ensure confidentiality and deal with adverse events. Shifting from didactic teaching to harnessing the wisdom of the group requires training: experiential learning is essential to understand how this model works.

DISCUSSION:
The Group Care Global, GC_1000 and Pregnancy Circles teams, funded by EU Horizon 2000 and NIHR, have trained hundreds of midwives and implemented gANC across low-, middle- and high-income countries. For the first time these clinicians and researchers have teamed up to share their skills. With space for 30 participants sitting in a circle, this engaging 90-minute workshop will cover: Big group: 10 minutes: gANC international background and evidence Two groups: 10 minutes: Ice-breaker 50 minutes: Role-play: mock session where participants experience interactive activities and one-to-one checks 15 minutes: Reflection and questions Big group: 5 minutes: closing activity; signposting to international resources

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
This work is based on research carried out by the following two studies and the wider research on group care: https://blogs.city.ac.uk/reach/about-us/ https://groupcare1000.com/countries/the-netherlands.html

KEY MESSAGE:
Learning outcomes: Understand gANC’s transformative potential Experience the power of interactive learning in maternity care Understand the skills needed for group facilitation Poster session 2 (Group A)