How can mobile devices improve maternal and child health outcomes?

Mobile devices are increasingly used to deliver health information and services, especially in low-resource settings where access to health care is limited. Mobile health, or mHealth, is the use of mobile phones, tablets, and other wireless devices to support health-related activities, such as diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, education, and communication. In this article, we will explore how mHealth can improve maternal and child health outcomes by addressing some of the key challenges and opportunities in this field.

1 Challenge: Lack of skilled birth attendants

One of the most critical factors for ensuring safe and healthy deliveries is the presence of skilled birth attendants, such as doctors, nurses, midwives, or trained community health workers. However, many women in low- and middle-income countries do not have access to such professionals, either because they live in remote areas, face cultural barriers, or cannot afford the cost of transportation or fees. This increases the risk of complications, infections, and deaths for both mothers and newborns.

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Fatoumata Ngayta DIOP

Founder "Voix de sages-femmes"/ Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist / Midwifery Specialist /Health Programmes Manager
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Les évidences n’ont cessé de montrer cet état particulièrement pour les sages femmes qui sont en première ligne quand il s’agit d’accouchement. Le défi est d’investir sur la formation initiale et continue des prestataires de santé pour réduire le gab.

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2 Opportunity: Mobile devices as virtual mentors

Mobile devices can help bridge the gap between skilled birth attendants and pregnant women by providing virtual mentoring, coaching, and guidance. For example, some mHealth programs use mobile phones to send voice or text messages to women during their pregnancy and after delivery, reminding them of antenatal care visits, warning signs, nutrition, hygiene, and immunization. Other programs use mobile apps or videos to train and support community health workers who assist women during labor and postnatal care, giving them access to protocols, checklists, and emergency referrals. These interventions can improve the quality of care, increase the confidence and skills of health workers, and empower women to make informed decisions about their health.

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Fatoumata Ngayta DIOP

Founder "Voix de sages-femmes"/ Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist / Midwifery Specialist /Health Programmes Manager
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Tout à fait vrai la technologie devient incontournable dans l’offre de services de santé. Les solutions numériques sont à intégrer dans les activités de santé publique sur tout le processus ( promotion, prise en charge et suivi)

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Liam Bailey

IT, AV, Metaphysics, comparative mythology, comparative religion and skafology [The study of angelic vessels]
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In my experience there seems to be a lack of credited in line training for expecting mother's. I have seen that in some NHS hospitals they have TV that display health quizzes. If there was a credited app that provided the same kind of interaction about all the aspects of child birth that parents could play. By using gamification techniques a credited app could gain user retention and revisits while educating the populous on the basics they need to know preparing for birth.

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3 Challenge: Lack of timely and accurate data

Another challenge for improving maternal and child health outcomes is the lack of timely and accurate data on key indicators, such as antenatal care coverage, delivery outcomes, neonatal mortality, and vaccination rates. Many health facilities in low-resource settings rely on paper-based records, which are prone to errors, delays, and loss. This hampers the ability of health managers and policymakers to monitor performance, identify gaps, and allocate resources effectively.

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Fatoumata Ngayta DIOP

Founder "Voix de sages-femmes"/ Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist / Midwifery Specialist /Health Programmes Manager
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La désagrégation des tâches devient de plus en plus indispensable dans la gestion des données sanitaires. Il faut un profil adéquat pour appuyer les prestataires de santé dans la collecte et l’analyse des données

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4 Opportunity: Mobile devices as data collectors

Mobile devices can help overcome the limitations of paper-based records by enabling digital data collection, transmission, and analysis. For example, some mHealth programs use mobile phones or tablets to register pregnant women, track their progress, record delivery details, and follow up on newborns. The data can then be uploaded to a central database or dashboard, where it can be accessed and visualized by health managers and policymakers. This can improve the timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of data, as well as the feedback and accountability mechanisms.

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Fatoumata Ngayta DIOP

Founder "Voix de sages-femmes"/ Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist / Midwifery Specialist /Health Programmes Manager
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La numérisation des données de santé devient incontournable, l’avenir c’est le dossier médical unique numérisé, la collecte électronique des données, etc

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5 Challenge: Lack of awareness and demand

A third challenge for improving maternal and child health outcomes is the lack of awareness and demand for essential health services among women and their families. Many women in low-resource settings face social, cultural, and economic barriers that prevent them from seeking or receiving adequate care, such as stigma, discrimination, gender norms, poverty, and illiteracy. This reduces their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding maternal and child health, and affects their health-seeking behavior and outcomes.

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6 Opportunity: Mobile devices as behavior change agents

Mobile devices can help increase awareness and demand for maternal and child health services by providing behavior change communication, education, and counseling. For example, some mHealth programs use mobile phones or tablets to deliver tailored and interactive messages to women and their families, addressing topics such as family planning, safe delivery, breastfeeding, and newborn care. Other programs use mobile games, quizzes, or incentives to engage and motivate women and their families to adopt healthy behaviors and access health services. These interventions can improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women and their families, and influence their health-seeking behavior and outcomes.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can mobile devices improve maternal and child health outcomes?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Challenge: Lack of skilled birth attendants

2 Opportunity: Mobile devices as virtual mentors

3 Challenge: Lack of timely and accurate data

4 Opportunity: Mobile devices as data collectors

5 Challenge: Lack of awareness and demand

6 Opportunity: Mobile devices as behavior change agents

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

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How can mobile devices improve maternal and child health outcomes?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Challenge: Lack of skilled birth attendants

2 Opportunity: Mobile devices as virtual mentors

3 Challenge: Lack of timely and accurate data

4 Opportunity: Mobile devices as data collectors

5 Challenge: Lack of awareness and demand

6 Opportunity: Mobile devices as behavior change agents

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

Rate this article

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