Improving access to maternal care in Africa through telemedicine and digital health

Abstract

Maternal well-being is the foundation for a sound and healthy population; however, 830 women die daily from preventable causes due to subpar maternal care. 1 This has not been achieved despite the United Nation's (UN) mission to decrease worldwide maternal mortality proportions by 75% by 2015 through the Millennium Development Goals. 2 Almost 99% of mortality is in low-income countries, with half of these deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, where maternal mortality is very high. 3 Moreover, 7700 maternal deaths occur every year in Kenya, accounting for 32% of deaths in females of reproductive age. 4 This is due to limitations in accessing maternity care with challenges such as transportation and proximity of dispensaries as primary. 5 A study conducted in 2021 states that one in four pregnant women did not have access to antenatal care. Most of these women were in Chad (37%) and Nigeria (38%).The challenge for people who are able to afford antenatal health is the low quality healthcare being provided to them. 6 Concurrently, early childbearing age brings increased health concerns for moms and newborns, especially with socioeconomic disparities. Not only that, but Africa also has the highest birth rate among young people with roughly 120 births per 1000 young women. 7 To add, the obligations related to childbirth, from conception to childhood, are thought to be carried out exclusively by women. 5 Moreover, a fear of Human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis and predetermined gender roles also have a great influence.

Experiences of mothers and health workers with MomCare and SafeCare bundles in Kenya and Tanzania: A qualitative evaluation

“…Our findings agree with the increasing use of digital health technologies to eliminate barriers to accessing health services in sub-Saharan Africa [5].…”

“…For example, mobile phone technologies (sometimes called telehealth, telemedicine, e-health, or mhealth) have recently emerged as promising tools to improve access and use of maternal and child health services, with the ultimate goal being better maternal and child health outcomes [4]. The benefits of digital technologies include removing barriers to accessing maternal health services by increasing economic and geographic convenience [5]; promoting health in general but also increasing access to health education, health management, and health research; and, increasing access to health care [6], with the added benefits of increased knowledge as information about pregnancy and newborn health become readily available [7]. Other benefits include increasing the frequency of ANC visits, timing, and quality of services [8][9][10].…”

Telemedicine and Pediatric Care in Rural and Remote Areas of Middle-and-Low-Income Countries: Narrative Review

“…In general, telemedicine has been shown to decrease the need for transferring neonates and children to other institutions, and increases quality of local care that ultimately helps keeps families together in their own communities [57]. Additionally, it can also be used to help improving maternal and antenatal care by improving access and quality of care [58][59][60].…”

The emerging role of digital health in the management of asthma

“…97,98 DHT is also able to improve healthcare in developing nations. 96,[99][100][101][102][103] As one example, a team of eye care professionals used a Peek Retina attachment on a smartphone to take images of the lens and fundus of 1460 participants in the Nakuru Eye Disease Cohort in Kenya, which were shared with Moorfields Eye Hospital Reading Centre (London, UK). 96 No observable difference was found between images taken by an experienced retinal photographer and a lay photographer with no healthcare experience.…”