Interactive Mobile Voice and Text Response Prototype for Reducing Maternal & Child Mortality

Abstract

Recent global focus on healthcare issues has stimulated research and development of innovative technologies which address much unsustainability of the current healthcare provision models. Rapid advances in mobile, wireless and sensing technologies have opened new opportunities in healthcare.

Exploitation of Information and Communications Technologies enables cost-effective and efficient healthcare delivery in home, hospital, assisted-living, and nursing home settings. Remote diagnosis, patient and elderly monitoring, computer assisted rehabilitation and therapy, control of vital parameters of people suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and heart attacks, sensing of individual’s health-related activities and vital signals, and smart management of medical records with the help of on/in body biosensors, radio frequency medical devices and intra-body communication systems are just some examples.

This study was aimed at providing a sustainable model of reducing maternal and child deaths through the use of both mobile voice systems and text/SMS among the mothers and the community health workers. The study also aimed to improve learning and behavior change through the use of pre-recorded voice messages among the mothers and CHWs. The system used an integrated voice and text system to improve surveillance and create awareness of syndromes and danger signs among pregnant mothers and under five children who are vulnerable.