Thinklab Development Musings: Research Options for DLSU

Concept Note

Cellphone-based Learning to Improve Maternal and Child Outcomes

Context:

Some Filipino 230 women die for every 100,000 live births, compared with 110 in Thailand, 62 in Malaysia and 14 in Singapore, according to UN.

Knowledge and Access Gaps

about half (54 percent) of women had the recommended antenatal care visit during the first trimester of pregnancy
While more than 90 percent of women who received antenatal care had their blood pressure monitored and weight measured, only 54 percent had their urine sample taken and 47 percent had their blood sample taken.
25% of births are not protected against neonatal tetanus.
-More than half (56 percent) of births are still delivered at home.
-23% of mothers did not have the DOH- recommended postpartum check within 48 hours of delivery
36% of births are unplanned
-Although it is recommended that infants should not be given anything other than breast milk
until six months of age, only one-third of Filipino babies are exclusively breastfed in first 6 months
are 36 Million cellphone owners

Response – Cellphone-based learning for midwives and pregnant women

Objectives:

to improve health outcomes by enhancing knowledge, skills, and attitudes of midwives, traditional birth attendants and pregnant women
to improve coordination between midwives, TBAs, pregnant women, and emergency obstetric facilities
to test SMS as a scaleable tool for reaching these target learners

Upcoming Contest:

Thinklab Development Musings