scholarly journals Assessing Mobile Phone Access, Usage and Willingness Among Women to Receive Voice Message-Based Mobile Health Intervention to Improve Antenatal Care Attendance in District Thatta

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anam Feroz ◽  
Naureen Akberali ◽  
Sarah Saleem
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Voice Message ◽  
Phone Access ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background Pakistan has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios worldwide at 276/100,000 live births and only 51% percent of women receive four or more ANC visits. This means that there are missed opportunities for almost half of the women who were not able to seek the recommended antenatal visits. In Thatta district, the maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 313/100,000 live births. Various studies reported that mHealth interventions have proven to be effective to improve antenatal care and postnatal care services. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile health interventions to increase uptake of preventive maternal healthcare services among pregnant women in different settings may be different due to differing patient demographics, cultural diversity, environmental and behavioral factors, availability and accessibility to mobile phones, and budgetary constraints. Prior to implementing a similar intervention in Thatta District, it is crucially important to assess the mobile phone access, usage and willingness among women to receive voice-message based mHealth intervention to improve antenatal care attendance. Methods A cross-sectional quantitative study will be used to assess mobile phone access, usage and willingness among women to receive voice-message based mHealth intervention to improve antenatal care attendance in District Thatta. The study will be conducted in Thatta district of Sindh province. Married women of reproductive age (MWRA), who are residing in selected villages of Mirpur Sakro and willing to participate will be included in the study. Multistage sampling technique will be used to recruit the 415 study participants. A structured questionnaire has been designed on Epicollect to collect data from 415 women. Data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23, with a level of significance as <0.05. Discussion This research project will provide invaluable information on the current access, usage of mobile phones among women of district Thatta and their willingness to receive voice messages to improve the antenatal care services. The study will also highlight demographic, sociocultural and economic factors associated with women willingness and readiness to receive voice messages regarding antenatal care.

The Use of Mobile Phones by Women Accessing Health Care Services in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Mosharaf Hossain ◽  
Ruhani Mat Min ◽  
Madihah Mohd
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Care Services ◽  
To Receive

Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality rates still pose a global challenge. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of mobile users trying to access antenatal care services, transportation to facilities, and postnatal care for mothers and newborns. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used data collected from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014. Data were gathered using a questionnaire. Participants comprised 4,494 mothers aged between 14 and 49. Models of logistic regression were used to determine associations. Results: The overall sample size was 4494, with only 22.23% of women using mobile phones. Among these, 29.9% used their mobile phones to obtain health services or advice and 70.1% did not. Women with mobile phones who had a higher level of education used them to receive more health care (secondary and higher: OR = 1.922, 95%CI = 1.225−3.014; primary: OR = 1.982, 95% CI = 1.738−2.654); they were of higher socio-economic status (rich: OR = 1.228, 95% CI = 1.009&−1.494; middle income: OR = 1.691, 95% CI = 1.256−2.333); they accessed more prenatal care (yes: OR = 1.993, 95% CI = 1.425−1.987) and antenatal care (yes: OR = 1.951, 95% CI = 1.765−1.998); they checked their health status after delivery (yes: OR = 1.966, 95% CI = 1.639−2.357). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that young women who had a higher level of education and income and resided in urban areas were more likely to use a mobile phone to receive health care facilities in Bangladesh. Intervention studies are essential in recognising that mobile phone-based facilities improve maternal health care.

What does it mean for a woman to have access to a phone in India? Implications for the development of mHealth interventions for maternal health (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchita S. Pendse ◽  
Alison M. El Ayadi ◽  
Preetika Sharma ◽  
Alka Ahuja ◽  
Darshan Hosapatna Basavarajappa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Postpartum Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
Phone Access

BACKGROUND As mobile phone uptake in India continues to grow, there is continued interest in mobile platform-based interventions for health education among other topics. Existing studies demonstrate a significant gender gap in mobile phone access, and suggest women’s access to mobile phones is constrained by economic and diverse social barriers. Pregnancy and postpartum care is one of many targets for mobile health (mHealth) interventions which particularly rely on women’s access to and facility with mobile phone use. OBJECTIVE This paper describes dynamics and patterns of women’s mobile phone access and use among both phone owners and non-owners, including potential barriers to mHealth participation. METHODS Mixed-methods data were obtained from two different surveys (n=102 and n=29), two sets of in-depth interviews (n=20 and 29), and weekly data collection obtained in preparation for or within the pilot of an mHealth postpartum care intervention in rural Punjab in July 2020-February 2021. RESULTS A majority of women owned their own phone, though about half (52%) of phone owners still reported sharing their phone with other family members. Sharing a phone with female family members typically allowed for better access than sharing with male family members. Some households have strict preferences against daughters-in-law having phones, or otherwise significantly restrict or control women’s phone access. Others reported concerns about phone use-related health hazards during pregnancy or postpartum for mother and infant. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest significant variability and nuance to what is meant by women’s phone ownership and access given the numerous additional constraints on their use of phones, particularly during pregnancy and postpartum. Future research and mHealth interventions should probe these domains to better understand these dynamics governing women’s access, use, and fluency with mobile phones to optimally design mHealth interventions. mHealth, mobile health, digital health, India, pregnancy, pregnant women, postpartum, postpartum care INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/preprints.34087

scholarly journals Assessing Mobile Phone Access and Willingness for Text-Based mHealth Intervention to Improve Prenatal Care at Primary Care Centers in North West Ethiopia: a Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berhanu F Endehabtu ◽  
Adane N Weldeab ◽  
Martin Were ◽  
RIchard Lester ◽  
Binyam Tilahun
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mobile Phone Use ◽  
North West ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
North West Ethiopia ◽  
To Receive

BACKGROUND Maternal mortality remains high in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where limited access to health services is linked to low antenatal care (ANC) utilization. Effective communication and engagement with care providers is vital for the delivery and receipt of sufficient health care services. There is strong evidence to show that simple text-based interventions can improve prenatal care utilization but most mHealth interventions doesn’t go to scale because of lack of context. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine access to mobile phones by pregnant women attending ANC, willingness to receive an SMS-based mHealth intervention for ANC services and to identify its associated factors among pregnant women attending ANC clinic in Gondar Town administration, North West Ethiopia. METHODS A cross sectional quantitative study was conducted among 422 pregnant women attending ANC from March 27- April 28, 2017. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi-Info version 7 and SPSS version 20 respectively. Descriptive statistics, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to identify factors associated with willingness to receive SMS based mHealth intervention. RESULTS A total of 416 (98.6 % response rate) respondents were included in the analysis. About 76.7% (319/416) of respondents owned a mobile phone, and 71.2% (296/416) were willing to receive SMS. Factors associated with willingness were: Youth age group (AOR = 2.869, 95 % CI: [1.451-5.651], having Secondary and above education level (AOR = 4.995, 95 % CI: [1.489-14.773] and frequency of mobile phone use (AOR = 0.319, 95 % CI: [0.141-0.718]). CONCLUSIONS A high proportion of pregnant women in an ANC clinic in this remote setting have mobile phone and are willing to receive SMS based mHealth intervention. Age, educational status and frequency of mobile phone use are significantly associated with willingness to receive SMS based mHealth interventions.

scholarly journals Smartloss: A Personalized Mobile Health Intervention for Weight Management and Health Promotion

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e18
Author(s):  
Corby K Martin ◽  
L. Anne Gilmore ◽  
John W Apolzan ◽  
Candice A Myers ◽  
Diana M Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Treatment Fidelity ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
The Individual

Background Synonymous with increased use of mobile phones has been the development of mobile health (mHealth) technology for improving health, including weight management. Behavior change theory (eg, the theory of planned behavior) can be effectively encapsulated into mobile phone-based health improvement programs, which is fostered by the ability of mobile phones and related devices to collect and transmit objective data in near real time and for health care or research professionals and clients to communicate easily. Objective To describe SmartLoss, a semiautomated mHealth platform for weight loss. Methods We developed and validated a dynamic energy balance model that determines the amount of weight an individual will lose over time if they are adherent to an energy intake prescription. This model was incorporated into computer code that enables adherence to a prescribed caloric prescription determined from the change in body weight of the individual. Data from the individual are then used to guide personalized recommendations regarding weight loss and behavior change via a semiautomated mHealth platform called SmartLoss, which consists of 2 elements: (1) a clinician dashboard and (2) a mobile phone app. SmartLoss includes and interfaces with a network-connected bathroom scale and a Bluetooth-connected accelerometer, which enables automated collection of client information (eg, body weight change and physical activity patterns), as well as the systematic delivery of preplanned health materials and automated feedback that is based on client data and is designed to foster prolonged adherence with body weight, diet, and exercise goals. The clinician dashboard allows for efficient remote monitoring of all clients simultaneously, which may further increase adherence, personalization of treatment, treatment fidelity, and efficacy. Results Evidence of the efficacy of the SmartLoss approach has been reported previously. The present report provides a thorough description of the SmartLoss Virtual Weight Management Suite, a professionally programmed platform that facilitates treatment fidelity and the ability to customize interventions and disseminate them widely. Conclusions SmartLoss functions as a virtual weight management clinic that relies upon empirical weight loss research and behavioral theory to promote behavior change and weight loss.

scholarly journals The use of mobile phone functionalities by patients with asthma and their desire to use for self-care purposes

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Nabovati ◽  
Mehrdad Farzandipour ◽  
Marzieh Heidarzadeh Arani ◽  
Hossein Akbari ◽  
Reihane Sharif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Instructional Information ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background Mobile health (mHealth) has good potential for promoting self-care in patients suffering from chronic diseases. The patients' positive attitude toward this technology is a key factor for the successful implementation. The present study was conducted to investigate the asthma patients' use of mobile phone functionalities and their desire to receive self-care services through this technology. Methods This survey study was conducted in Iran in 2018. The study population consisted of 146 patients suffering from asthma. The data collection tool was a questionnaire containing items on the demographic characteristics of patients, current use of mobile phone functionalities, and desire to use them for receiving self-care services. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results Out of the 160 questionnaires distributed, 146 (91.25%) were completed. The majority of the participants had smartphones (84.9%). Less than half of the participants occasionally used mobile phone functionalities including mobile phone calls (42.5%) and mobile Internet (40.4%) to receive asthma-related information. A significant number of the participants had never used smartphone applications (72.6%) and E-mail (66.4%) to receive asthma-related information. The participants had their greatest use of Internet search, followed by social media, to receive information about asthma symptoms, allergenic and irritating substances, medicinal therapy, and how to use therapy aids. The participants were most willing to use social media for receiving asthma information, communicating with other patients, receiving reminders about doctor's appointment, and receiving warnings about the lack of asthma control. Conclusion In Iran as a developing country, asthma patients use Internet search mostly to receive instructional information and are willing to use social media rather than other mobile phone functionalities to receive self-care services. These patients believe that mobile phones are appropriate for receiving instructional information and reminders.

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