Towards a Framework on the Use of Infomediaries in Maternal mHealth in Rural Malawi

Maliwichi, Priscilla; Chigona, Wallace

doi:10.28945/5015

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, it is important to negotiate appropriate use of maternal mHealth considering the sensitivity of maternal issues. However, there is still dearth of literature on how those who lack prerequisite technologies negotiate use of maternal mHealth interventions (Maliwichi & Chigona, 2022a).…”

Section: Negotiations In Maternal Mhealth Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the reasons why negotiation occurs is to agree on how to share limited resources (Lewicki et al, 2016), In poor resource settings, where households may have only one family member owning a mobile phone, other family members may negotiate usage of the mobile phone (NSO & MACRA, 2014). For maternal mHealth, negotiating mobile phone usage could be possible with family members and community members for whom the maternal healthcare client finds trustworthy (Maliwichi & Chigona, 2022a). It could be the case that maternal health is associated with cultural norms, which may prohibit the maternal healthcare client from negotiating mobile phone usage for maternal-related issues with anybody.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Negotiating Mobile Phone Usage for MHealth by Maternal Healthcare Clients Who Do Not Own Mobile Phones in rural Malawi

Maliwichi¹,

Chigona²,

Malata³

et al.

EPiC Series in Education Science

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In poor-resource settings, owning a mobile phone could be an advantage to using developmental interventions based on mobile phones. However, maternal mHealth interventions in these settings are challenged due to low mobile phone ownership among women. Women are less likely to own a mobile phone than their male counterparts. Therefore, for maternal healthcare clients to use maternal mHealth intervention, it is expected that these clients negotiate mobile phone access and usage from owners of mobile phones in their communities. We employed qualitative research methods to understand how maternal healthcare clients who do not own mobile phones negotiate usage of mobile phones for maternal healthcare. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with maternal healthcare clients and mobile phone owners, and focus group discussions with the maternal healthcare clients. The study found that maternal healthcare clients used cooperative negotiating tactics such as issue-based, compromising, and accommodating to negotiate mobile phone usage. Negotiating mobile phone usage has the potential to enhance digital skills for mobile phone users who do not own mobile phones. The study may inform mHealth implementers on how they may sensitise beneficiaries of mHealth who lack prerequisite technologies on how to negotiate access of mobile phones for mHealth.

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Section: Negotiations In Maternal Mhealth Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negotiating Mobile Phone Usage for MHealth by Maternal Healthcare Clients Who Do Not Own Mobile Phones in rural Malawi

Maliwichi¹,

Chigona²,

Malata³

et al.

EPiC Series in Education Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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The role of the community of purpose in maternal mHealth interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa context

Sowon,

Maliwichi,

Chigona

et al. 2024

Front. Digit. Health

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BackgroundmHealth has increasingly been touted as having the potential to help Sub-Saharan Africa achieve their health-related sustainable development goals by reducing maternal mortality rates. Such interventions are implemented as one-way or two-way systems where maternal clients receive pregnancy related information via SMS. While such technologies often view the users (the maternal health client) as having agency to adopt, we know from pregnancy literature that the pregnancy experience in Africa and other developing countries is often more collective. In addition to the maternal health client, other members of the community have high stakes in the pregnancy, and this often affects maternal healthcare-seeking behavior.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper, therefore, is to understand the pathways through which these other members of the community affect mHealth use.MethodsThe study used a qualitative approach and a case study research design. We analyzed two mHealth cases from Kenya and Malawi. In the Kenyan case, maternal health clients had mobile phones to receive pregnancy-related messages, while in the Malawi case, maternal health clients did not have mobile phones. Data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions. The study used an inductive thematic analysis to analyze the data.ResultsThe findings show that maternal stakeholders form a community of purpose (CoP) that plays a crucial role in the implementation, uptake, and use of mHealth. The CoP influences maternal health clients through a diverse range of mechanisms ranging from sensitization, bridging the digital literacy gap and legitimization of the intervention. The nature of influence is largely dependent on the contextual socio-cultural nuances.ConclusionOur results provide useful insights to mHealth implementers to know how best to leverage the CoP for better mHealth uptake and usage. For example, engaging healthcare providers could champion adoption and use, while engaging other family-related stakeholders will ensure better usage and compliance, encourage behavior change, and reduce mHealth attrition.

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Towards a Framework on the Use of Infomediaries in Maternal mHealth in Rural Malawi

Cited by 2 publications

References 28 publications

Negotiating Mobile Phone Usage for MHealth by Maternal Healthcare Clients Who Do Not Own Mobile Phones in rural Malawi

Negotiating Mobile Phone Usage for MHealth by Maternal Healthcare Clients Who Do Not Own Mobile Phones in rural Malawi

The role of the community of purpose in maternal mHealth interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa context

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