Effect of a Mobile Health Intervention on Birth Outcome and Infant Health

Globally, neonatal and infant mortality persist as challenging concerns, paralleled by a notable prevalence of low birth weight, preterm birth, and challenges in child growth and development. Some of the factors contributing to these issues include poor maternal health and nutrition, maternal smoking, and insufficient maternal awareness. Despite global efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health, adverse birth outcomes remain significant challenges, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). A noteworthy observation is that not all pregnant women modify their behaviors for their and their baby's health due to lack of social support, fear and insecurity. Recognizing the potential for interventions during pregnancy to positively influence maternal, fetal, and neonatal health, this research underscores the role of Mobile Health (mHealth) technologies in leveraging information and communication technology for health service delivery. Accordingly, the study aims to evaluate the effect of mobile health intervention on birth outcomes and infant health in Nepal. In the initial phase, a qualitative study will be conducted to explore the enablers and barriers of perinatal care and preferences of pregnant women through focus group discussions. These insights will inform the development of user-centered educational videos and tailored m-Health interventions for pregnant women. A two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial will then assess the m-Health intervention's effect on the birth outcomes and infant health of the pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic of Dhulikhel Hospital. The investigaotors will randomize pregnant women at gestational age 14-22 weeks into either a control group (who will receive standard care along with a control video and reminder phone call for follow-up) or an intervention group (who will receive standard care along with m-health intervention that includes educational video, short message service (SMS) and reminder phone call for follow up). Follow-up will be done from enrollment until the child reaches one year of age, with a focus on evaluating effect of m-Health intervention on birth outcomes (birth weight and gestational age at delivery) and infant health (growth and development of the infant). Data collection will utilize a self-constructed semi-structured questionnaire, along with validated questionnaires. The collected data will be analyzed using STATA 14, contributing valuable insights into the potential effect of m-Health intervention on birth outcomes and infant health.