Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Karen Sowon, Priscilla Maliwichi, Wallace Chigona
Summary: This study reviews maternal mHealth interventions in Kenya to explore the influence of intervention design and implementation characteristics on use, and provides a starting inventory for maternal mHealth interventions in the country.
JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rosawan Areemit, Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul, Sumitr Sutra, Pagakrong Lumbiganon, Phenphitcha Pornprasitsakul, Pongsatorn Paopongsawan, Kunwadee Sripanidkulchai
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the KhunLook app compared to traditional care on parents' health literacy (HL). The results showed that using the KhunLook app can improve parents' HL and lead to more accurate assessments of children's head circumference and development compared to traditional methods.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Buna Bhandari, Abhinav Vaidya, Padmanesan Narasimhan, Aletta E. Schutte, Rohan Jayasuriya
Summary: The TEXT4BP study aimed to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a mobile phone text messaging intervention (TEXT4BP) in improving blood pressure control and treatment adherence among patients with hypertension in Nepal. The study found that the intervention group had greater reductions in blood pressure and improved medication adherence compared to the control group. The intervention was well accepted by the participants. This study provides promising evidence that text messaging interventions can be effective in improving blood pressure control in low-resource settings.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rizwana Biviji, Karmen S. Williams, Joshua R. Vest, Brian E. Dixon, Theresa Cullen, Christopher A. Harle
Summary: Users prioritize apps that are low cost or free, with high-quality content, superior features, and user-friendly interfaces. User engagement and satisfaction are also influenced by app developer responsiveness and the opportunity for user involvement in the app development process.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
James A. Amisi, E. Jane Carter, Enos Masini, Daria Szkwarko
Summary: This study reviewed the child contact management cascade and IPT outcomes in 10 clinics in western Kenya. Among 553 child contacts screened, 42% were reported symptomatic and 13% were diagnosed with active TB disease. 90% of those eligible for IPT initiated treatment, with 58% recorded in the IPT register and 82% documented to complete therapy.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jefferson Mwaisaka, Lianne Gonsalves, Mary Thiongo, Michael Waithaka, Hellen Sidha, Otieno Alfred, Carol Mukiira, Peter Gichangi
Summary: The study aimed to explore young people's experiences using an on-demand SRH mHealth platform in Kenya. The results showed varied user experiences and levels of satisfaction, from ease of use for most respondents to systematic frustrations for some. Interesting features of the mHealth platform included immediate response to message requests, weekly quizzes, and the perceived ability of educational content to change behaviors. Proposed enhancements included revising concepts for easy understanding and increasing interactivity for young people seeking clarity on difficult terms or additional information.
JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Abdul Momin Kazi, Nazia Ahsan, Saima Jamal, Ayub Khan, Waliyah Mughis, Raheel Allana, Abdul Nafey Kazi, Hussain Kalimuddin, Syed Asad Ali, William McKellin, Jean-Paul Collet
Summary: This study investigated the acceptability and usability of mobile phones among infant caregivers in urban and rural areas of Pakistan. The results showed high access to mobile phones, especially those with SMS features, in both regions. Promoting child immunization through mobile phone messages was well-accepted in the study areas, although access to smartphones remained limited.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Eveline M. Kabongo, Ferdinand C. Mukumbang, Peter Delobelle, Edward Nicol
Summary: This study conducted a realist synthesis to investigate the contextual factors, mechanisms, and outcome elements of mHealth interventions in maternal and child health. Two configurational models were formulated to illustrate how mHealth impacts implementation and uptake of maternal and child health care. The study provides a foundation for theory-driven evaluation of mHealth interventions in low- and middle-income countries.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Yaoyao Sun, Yanyan Li, Juan Wang, Qingyi Chen, Alessandra N. Bazzano, Fenglin Cao
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of smartphone-based mindfulness training during pregnancy on perinatal depression and mental health indicators. Results showed significant improvement in depression and secondary outcomes for pregnant women who participated in mindfulness training compared to the control group. Mindfulness training was effective in improving maternal perinatal depression, especially for nulliparous women.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Sahil Sharma, Snigdha Soni, Shalini Kaushik, Mani Kalaivani, Vatsla Dadhwal, K. Aparna Sharma, Deepak Sharma
Summary: The utility of telemedicine in healthcare has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SwasthGarbh is a smartphone application that provides antenatal care and real-time medical support to pregnant women, especially those in rural areas. A randomized controlled trial demonstrated its effectiveness in improving the quality of antenatal care, reducing complications, and enhancing the pregnancy experience.
IEEE JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Qiuchen Yang, Ellen Siobhan Mitchell, Annabell S. Ho, Laura DeLuca, Heather Behr, Andreas Michaelides
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a health weight program's mHealth interventions in weight loss and engagement in four English-speaking regions. Results showed similar weight outcomes but significantly different engagement levels across regions, which impacted intervention outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ramachandran Venkataramanan, S. V. Subramanian, Mohannad Alajlani, Theodoros N. Arvanitis
Summary: This review summarizes the available evidence on mHealth interventions aiming to increase the utilization of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care services, and investigates the barriers to mHealth adoption among healthcare workers and beneficiaries. The findings suggest that mHealth interventions can improve access to MCH services, but further studies with larger sample sizes and stronger research designs are recommended.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Alyssa D. Hummel, Keshet Ronen, Amritha Bhat, Brenda Wandika, Esther M. Choo, Lusi Osborn, Maneesh Batra, John Kinuthia, Manasi Kumar, Jennifer A. Unger
Summary: This study, part of a larger SMS communication project, examined the prevalence and correlates of perinatal depression in Kenyan women. The findings showed a high prevalence of perinatal depressive symptoms in this cohort, with interpersonal abuse, lower education levels, and maternal unemployment being strong predictors. Antenatal depression was also found to be associated with an increased risk of infant illness or hospitalization. Differences in messaging frequency were observed between women with and without perinatal depression, highlighting the potential for tailored support.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Wabi Temesgen Atinafu, Kefyalew Naniye Tilahun, Tesfahun Melese Yilma, Zeleke Abebaw Mekonnen, Agmasie Damtew Walle, Jibril Bashir Adem
Summary: The study found that the majority of prenatal women have an intention to use a mobile phone to receive mental health support, with attitude, perceived usefulness, and trust having direct positive effects on the intention to use a mobile phone.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Meghan Bruce Kumar, Jason J. Madan, Peter Auguste, Miriam Taegtmeyer, Lilian Otiso, Christian B. Ochieng, Nelly Muturi, Elizabeth Mgamb, Edwine Barasa
Summary: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using community-level quality improvement to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Kenya. Results showed that the quality improvement intervention was more cost-effective compared to standard community healthcare, with improvements in antenatal care uptake and skilled delivery. Quality improvement interventions may be a good investment and yield benefits in other health areas.