Musiimenta, A., Tumuhimbise, W., Pinkwart, N., Katusiime, J., Mugyenyi, G., & Atukunda, E. C. (2021). A mobile phone-based multimedia intervention to support maternal health is acceptable and feasible among illiterate pregnant women in Uganda: Qualitative findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial. DIGITAL HEALTH. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207620986296
Researchers tested the acceptability and feasibility of a smartphone-based multimedia app to support maternal health among 80 pregnant women in rural Uganda who were illiterate. 40 women were assigned in the intervention group and were provided smartphones and the MatHealth app, an offline app that does not require Internet. The 40 women in the control group received routine care treatment as usual. The app has a video/audio function that provides media content of maternal health information created by an obstetrician, gynecologist, and nutritionist. MatHealth includes information on nutrition, breastfeeding, HIV testing, family planning, potential pregnancy danger signs, preparing for childbirth and care during delivery, and postnatal care. The app also provides appointment reminders for antenatal care and the ability to communicate with a gynecologist through the app. Qualitative interviews were used to assess acceptability of the app, with results showing that the app helped participants receive better spouse support, clinic appointment reminders, and made communication with healthcare providers easier. Participants reported some challenges including phone sharing, accidental deleting of the app, lack of electricity, and difficulty setting up the reminder function. Overall, MatHealth app is an acceptable intervention among illiterate women in a rural low-income setting.