Mobile health: Connecting managers, service providers and clients in Bombali district, Sierra Leone. Intervention study on mHealth for maternal and newborn health in resource-poor community and health system settings, Sierra Leone. Baseline study report
Abstract
The intervention study, under the ‘mobile health for maternal and newborn health in resource-poor community and health systems settings, Sierra Leone’ programme, follows the successful completion of the feasibility study carried out in 2011. The overall research objective is to assess the effect of integrating mobile communication strategies into existing health service packages in Bombali district, Sierra Leone, on maternal and newborn health service utilization. An intervention would be undertaken involving each health facility and related clinical staff in the study district and a limited number of traditional birth attendants in two chiefdoms, as well as antenatal care and family planning clients who decide to participate.
This report describes the results of the baseline study undertaken before the implementation of the mHealth interventions. The baseline study collected quantitative data from health facilities and health workers in Bombali district. Facility characteristics (type, level and use of mobile phones) and staffing levels were collected. Information was gathered from facility staff about mobile phone use for initiating and receiving calls and/or text messages, on barriers to the use of mobile phones and on perceptions regarding job satisfaction and related communication. Data will be collected from health workers again at midline and end line to measure changes over time in relation to the phased implementation of the interventions.
Citation
Magbity, E.; Kamara, S.A.Y.; de Koning, K.; Wolmarans, L.; Herschderfer, K.; Ormel, H.; Jalloh-Vos, H.; Jalloh, A.M. Mobile health: Connecting managers, service providers and clients in Bombali district, Sierra Leone. Intervention study on mHealth for maternal and newborn health in resource-poor community and health system settings, Sierra Leone. Baseline study report. Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, Netherlands (2013) xii + 53 pp.
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