Table 1 Types of digital maternal health programs
Program Type | Description |
|---|---|
Appointment reminders | Reminder messages to women from healthcare providers to attend appointments using mobile devices. Messages can be sent through SMS-based text, video, or multimedia messages |
E-vouchers (mobile money) | Electronic vouchers to finance maternal healthcare services using mobile devices; involves the use of mobile apps |
Healthcare telephone helplines | Healthcare advice to women through live phone interactions with healthcare providers or pre-recorded messages; accessible through mobile phones or landlines |
Health information | Administering health information through mobile devices. Can be conveyed through uni- or bi-directional SMS-based text, video, or multimedia messages |
Health promotion | Health promotion campaigns through mobile devices. Can be conveyed through SMS-based text, video, or multimedia messages |
Treatment adherence | Messages sent to women to achieve treatment adherence. Can be conveyed through SMS-based text, video, or multimedia messages |
Surveillance | Surveillance of patients to ascertain pregnancy and/or birth outcomes, obtained through mobile telephone calls to women or bi-directional text messages between women and healthcare providers |