Transition to Value-Based Care IoT Wearable Devices in Maternity Healthcare for Low-Resource Countries

Abstract

Wearable devices are used in maternity to foster remote medication and monitoring. Monitoring the mother and child's well-being has its application with IoT devices. Without a doubt, proper pregnancy to childbirth monitoring utilizing wearable sensors contributes significantly to improving health, and decreasing mortality among mothers and children respectively. The research aims to explore how the implementation of IoT wearable devices in maternity healthcare can facilitate the transition to a value-based care model in low-resource countries. A quantitative approach to information gathering through the use of questionnaires was used to elicit information from participants. The target population was limited to women registered for antenatal visits with some hospitals located in the Owerri municipal area of Imo State in Nigeria. Results obtained through the survey sample show 60% of the women exhibit non-compliance to medical antenatal visit. 40% of the women were recorded to be aware of the use of wearables, with the rest ignorant of the use of ubiquitous wearable devices. However, 85 % of the women were found to be involved in economic activity that might not give them time for routine check. Also, it was found that women experience barriers in switching to Value-Based Care in the study area. The study therefore recommends that government subsidy and proper sensitization for pregnant mothers will enhance the acceptability and use of this technology to monitor health of women during pregnancy to ensure adherence to medication and prompt notification to visit the healthcare center whenever the need arises.