The role of a decision-support smartphone application in enhancing community health volunteers effectiveness to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in Nairobi Kenya: quasi-experimental research protocol.

Wednesday, 23rd of August 2017

The role of a decision-support smartphone application in enhancing community health volunteers effectiveness to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in Nairobi Kenya: quasi-experimental research protocol.

Bakibinga P¹ Kamande E Omuya M Ziraba AK Kyobutungi C.

Author information

1Health Challenges and Systems Research Program African Population and Health Research Center Nairobi Kenya.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Improving maternal and new born survival remains major aspirations for many countries in the Global South. Slum settlements a result of rapid urbanisation in many developing countries including Kenya exhibit high levels of maternal and neonatal mortality. There are limited referral mechanisms for sick neonates and their mothers from the community to healthcare facilities with ability to provide adequate care. In this study we specifically plan to develop and assess the added value of having community health volunteers (CHVs) use smartphones to identify and track mothers and children in a bid to reduce pregnancy-related complications and new born deaths in the urban slums of Kamukunji subcounty in Nairobi Kenya.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS:

This is a quasi-experimental study. We are implementing an innovative mHealth application known as mobile Partnership for Maternal New born and Child Health (mPAMANECH) which uses dynamic mobile phone and web-portal solutions to enable CHVs make timely decisions on the best course of action in their management of mothers and new borns at community level. The application is based on existing guidelines and protocols in use by CHVs. Currently CHVs conduct weekly home visits and make decisions from memory or using unwieldy manual tools and thus prone to making errors. mPAMANECH has an in-built algorithm that makes it easier faster and more likely for CHVs to make the right management decision. We are working with a network of selected CHVs and maternity centres to pilot test the tool. To measure the impact of the intervention baseline and end-line surveys will be conducted. Data will be obtained through qualitative and quantitative methods.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the African Medical Research Foundation. Key messages from the results will be packaged and disseminated through meetings conference presentations reports fact sheets and academic publications to facilitate uptake by policy-makers.