AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH OF MOBILE E-HEALTH INTERVENTION IN TRACKING ANTENATAL MOTHERS & NEONATES IN SELECTED RURAL AREAS OF A DISTRICT IN CENTRAL INDIA: AN ICE BREAKING FOOTSTEP FOR REVOLUTION
India is “making progress” in declining maternal and neonatal mortality, but not “on track” to meeting its goal. There is great deal of disparity in quality and access to healthcare between urban and rural region.
India has good network of mobile connectivity, low usage cost, high acceptability, and availability in community which could act as a catalyst for providing basic health services to rural patients.
With aim to study effectiveness of mobile phones in improving maternal and neonatal health and seeks to innovate measures for ensuring access to skilled attendance at delivery through an intervention called “Mobile e-health” this study was conducted with an initial focus on antenatal care & neonate.
METHODS:
This is interventional study comparing effectiveness of mobile e-health in maternal and neonatal health with control group, receiving routine care. Mothers registered for ANC between Jan-June 2010 willing to use mobile phone & motivated to complete follow up visit till 28 days postpartum period and neonates born to mothers recruited for study. Total 178 & 206 mothers were included in interventional & control group respectively.
RESULTS:
An increase in ≥ 4 ANC visits was significantly improved by 12% & early registration before 12 weeks was significantly increased by 9% in interventional group. Most of hypertension, diabetes cases were detected at least 4- 7 weeks earlier than control group.
In interventional group significant increase in mean weight & haemoglobin was observed in third trimester.
Institutional delivery has increased & prevalence of LBW babies had decreased by 8%. 92% of neonates in interventional group was immunized with BCG and OPV within 7 days compared to 73% in control group.
CONCLUSIONS:
Significant difference in morbidity and mortality between two groups showed positive impact of use of mobile technology. Overall intervention was found effective and acceptable by beneficiaries and health providers.