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 Does women’s mobile phone ownership matter for health? Evidence from 15 countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. e002524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amnesty E LeFevre ◽  
Neha Shah ◽  
Jean Juste Harrisson Bashingwa ◽  
Asha S George ◽  
Diwakar Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Income Status ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Provider Communication

Mobile phones have the potential to increase access to health information, improve patient–provider communication, and influence the content and quality of health services received. Evidence on the gender gap in ownership of mobile phones is limited, and efforts to link phone ownership among women to care-seeking and practices for reproductive maternal newborn and child health (RMNCH) have yet to be made. This analysis aims to assess household and women’s access to phones and its effects on RMNCH health outcomes in 15 countries for which Demographic and Health Surveys data on phone ownership are available. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to explore factors associated with women’s phone ownership, along with the association of phone ownership to a wide range of RMNCH indicators. Study findings suggest that (1) gender gaps in mobile phone ownership vary, but they can be substantial, with less than half of women owning mobile phones in several countries; (2) the gender gap in phone ownership is larger for rural and poorer women; (3) women’s phone ownership is generally associated with better RMNCH indicators; (4) among women phone owners, utilisation of RMNCH care-seeking and practices differs based on their income status; and (5) more could be done to unleash the potential of mobile phones on women’s health if data gaps and varied metrics are addressed. Findings reinforce the notion that without addressing the gender gap in phone ownership, digital health programmes may be at risk of worsening existing health inequities.

scholarly journals Mobile Phone Access and Preferences Among Medical Inpatients at an Urban Canadian Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam AboMoslim ◽  
Niloufar Ghaseminejad-Tafreshi ◽  
Abdulaa Babili ◽  
Samia El Joueidi ◽  
John A Staples ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Medical Ward ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Medical Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Phone Access

Abstract Background: Digital health interventions are increasingly used for patient care, yet little data is available on the phone access type and usage preferences of medical ward patients to inform the most appropriate digital interventions.Methods: To learn about mobile phone ownership, internet access, and cellular use preferences among medical patients, we conducted a researcher-administered survey of patients admitted to five internal medicine units at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) in January 2020.Results: A total of 81 ward patients completed the questionnaire from the two survey dates. Of those, 63.0% owned their own mobile phone, an additional 22.2% had access to a mobile phone via a proxy (or an authorized third-party) such as a family member, and 14.8% did not own or have access to a mobile phone. All participants with mobile phone access had cellular plans (i.e., phone and text) ; however, a quarter of respondents did not have data plans with internet. 71.1% of men owned a mobile phone compared to only 52.8% of women. All participants at a ‘high’ risk of readmission had access to a mobile phone, either as phone-owners or proxy-dependent users.Conclusion: Access to mobile phones among medical ward patients was high, but incomplete. More patients had cellular than data plans (i.e., internet and applications). Understanding patient-specific access is key to informing potential uptake of digital health interventions aimed at using patients’ mobile phones (mHealth) from an effectiveness and equity lens.

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.

Mobile Phone Purchasing and Brand Presence on Facebook

2019 ◽  
pp. 643-660
Author(s):  
Barry Ardley ◽  
Jialin Hardwick ◽  
Lauriane Delarue ◽  
Nick Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Online Advertising ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Consumer Decision Making ◽  
Consumer Decision ◽  
Decision Sequence ◽  
Group Interviews

Focusing on the mobile phones sector, this study explores how the social networking site ‘Facebook' is used by consumers in their purchasing. Although there is extensive work on the influences on the buying decision process relevant to mobile phone purchasing, it is mainly set outside of a social media context. This paper assists in filling a gap in contemporary research, revealing the presence of different behavioural segments on Facebook. The authors analyse the consumer decision sequence in response to the notion of ‘brand presence', manifested through online advertising, fan and group pages. The approach is interpretative. The study is based on young professional user's experiences, collected through semi-structured individual and focus group interviews. The findings show that Facebook fan pages are shown to have a degree of influence, particularly in the early stages of buying behaviour. In this context, five novel behavioural segments of consumer interactions with Smartphone brands on Facebook have been identified by the research. These are the Avoider, the Suspicious, the Passive, the Receptive, and the Active. Future research of cross comparative studies could be taken on the issues the authors examine and consider them in relation to not only Facebook, but additionally, to other social network sites. Companies could utilise the findings in the future development of social media strategy. The research highlights the socially networked and collective nature of much activity on Facebook, which impacts on the consumer decision-making process for mobile phones.

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.

Mobile Phones: News Consumption, News Creation, and News Organization Accommodations

2015 ◽  
pp. 280-286
Author(s):  
Kristine Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Digital Device ◽  
News Content ◽  
News Organization ◽  
News Consumption ◽  
News Organizations ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Way

Advances in mobile phone technologies have changed the way news is consumed and created. Accordingly, this relates to three specific areas: 1.) people turn to their phones to consume news content, 2.) people use their phones to create news content, and 3.) news organizations are making accommodations based on these changes. In particular, research indicates an increase in the number of people who use their phones to access the news. In addition, given the availability of faster connections and phone-based multimedia capabilities, individuals now play a role in the creation news content. News organizations are taking notice and have adopted ways in which to utilize mobile phone capabilities, both in terms of the distribution and creation of news content. Suggested future research involves examining consumer use of more than one digital device at a time.

scholarly journals Mobile Health Interventions Addressing Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe: Current Landscape and Potential for Future Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Reddy ◽  
Natisha Dukhi ◽  
Ronel Sewpaul ◽  
Mohammad Ali Afzal Ellahebokus ◽  
Nilen Sunder Kambaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Adolescent Obesity ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Childhood And Adolescent Obesity ◽  
Sub Saharan

Child and adolescent overweight is a growing public health problem globally. Europe and low and middle-income (LMIC) countries in Sub-Saharan Africa provide sufficiently suitable populations to learn from with respect to the potential for mobile health (mHealth) interventions in this area of research. The aim of this paper is to identify mHealth interventions on prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Sweden and report on their effects, in order to inform future research in this area. A search of peer-reviewed publications was performed using PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, and Scopus. The search included all articles published up to August 2019. The search strings consisted of MeSH terms related to mHealth, overweight or obesity, children, adolescents or youth and individual countries in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. Second, a combination of free-text words; mobile phone, physical activity, exercise, diet, weight, BMI, and healthy eating was also used. Seven studies were reported from Europe and no eligible studies from Sub-Saharan Africa. The results of this narrative review indicate a lack of research in the development and testing of mHealth interventions for childhood and adolescent obesity. There is a need for an evidence base of mHealth interventions that are both relevant and appropriate in order to stem the epidemic of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in these countries. Uptake of such interventions is likely to be high as there is high penetrance of mobile phone technology amongst adolescents, even within poor communities in Africa.

scholarly journals Patterns of Mobile Phone Ownership and Use Among Pregnant Women in Southern Tanzania: Cross-Sectional Survey

10.2196/17122 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e17122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lavanya Vasudevan ◽  
Jan Ostermann ◽  
Sara Marwerwe Moses ◽  
Esther Ngadaya ◽  
Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Phone Calls

Background There is a paucity of subnational data on patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in Tanzania to inform the development of digital health interventions. Objective The aim of this study is to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in pregnant women to inform the feasibility and design of digital health interventions for promoting timely uptake of childhood vaccines in southern Tanzania. Methods Between August and November 2017, pregnant women in their third trimester were enrolled at health facilities and from surrounding communities, and asked about their patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in an interviewer administered survey. Results Of 406 women, only 3 had never used a phone. Most women (>98%) could make and receive phone calls. Compared to urban women, rural women reported higher mobile phone use rates but were less likely to be sole owners of phones, and less likely to send or receive SMS, transact money, browse the internet, or use social media via mobile phones. Conclusions The findings suggest high feasibility for digital health interventions delivered via mobile phones to pregnant women in southern Tanzania. The feasibility of smartphone-based interventions or strategies relying on the use of social media or the internet is limited.

Understanding Lay Counselor Perspectives on Mobile Phone Supervision in Kenya: A Mixed Method Human-Centered Design Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah S Triplett
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Human Centered Design ◽  
Lay Counselors ◽  
Personal Support

Introduction: Mobile phones may present a low-tech opportunity to replace or decrease reliance on in-person supervision in task-shifting, but important technical and contextual limitations must be examined and considered. Guided by human-centered design methods, we aimed to understand how mobile phones are currently used when supervising lay counselors, determine the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone supervision, and generate solutions to improve mobile phone supervision.Methods: Participants were recruited from a large hybrid effectiveness-implementation study in western Kenya, wherein teachers and community health volunteers have been trained to provide trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Lay counselors (N=24) and supervisors (N=3) participated in semi-structured interviews in the language of the participants choosing (i.e., English or Kiswahili). The participants included high frequency, average frequency, and low frequency phone users in equal parts. Interviews were transcribed, translated when needed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Themes were compared across frequency of phone use following a mixed methods data transformation and integration approach. Results: Uses included: clinical updates, scheduling and coordinating, and supporting research procedures. Participants liked how mobile phones decreased burden, facilitated access to clinical and personal support, and enabled greater independence of lay counselors. Participants disliked how mobile phones limited information transmission, limited relationship building between supervisors and lay counselors, and disrupted communication flows. Mobile phone supervision was facilitated by access to working smartphones, ease and convenience of mobile phone supervision, mobile phone literacy, and positive supervisor-counselor relationships. Limited resources, technical difficulties, communication challenges, and limitations on which activities can effectively be performed via mobile phones were barriers to mobile phone supervision. Lay counselors and supervisors generated 27 distinct solutions to increase the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone supervision. Differences emerged in specific themes pertaining to acceptability and feasibility by frequency of use.Conclusion: While mobile phone supervision was acceptable to both lay counselors and supervisors, there were also distinct challenges with feasibility. Researchers considering how digital technology can be used to increase mental and digital health equity must consider limitations to implementing digital health tools and design solutions alongside end-users to increase acceptability and feasibility.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document