The MomConnect helpdesk: how an interactive mobile messaging programme is used by mothers in South Africa.
| Title: | The MomConnect helpdesk: how an interactive mobile messaging programme is used by mothers in South Africa. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Xiong K; MEASURE Evaluation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.; Kamunyori J; MEASURE Evaluation Strategic Information for South Africa (MEval-SIFSA), ICF, Pretoria, South Africa.; Sebidi J; Strategic Health Programmes, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Source: | BMJ global health [BMJ Glob Health] 2018 Apr 24; Vol. 3 (Suppl 2), pp. e000578. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Apr 24 (Print Publication: 2018). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Review |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101685275 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 2059-7908 (Print) Linking ISSN: 20597908 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Glob Health Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, [2016]- |
| Abstract: | South Africa's MomConnect mobile messaging programme, which aims to promote safe motherhood and improve pregnancy outcomes for South African women, includes a helpdesk feature which allows women registered on the system to ask maternal and child health (MCH)-related questions and to provide feedback on health services received at public health clinics. Messages sent to the helpdesk are answered by staff located at the National Department of Health. We examined event data from the MomConnect helpdesk database to identify any patterns in messages received, such as correlation of frequency or types of messages with location. We also explored what these data could tell us about the helpdesk's effectiveness in improving health service delivery at public health clinics. We found that approximately 8% of registered MomConnect users used the helpdesk, and that usage was generally proportional to the use of antenatal care (ANC) services in provinces (as indicated by number of ANC first visits and number of MomConnect registrations), except in two provinces. Language, category and key topics of helpdesk messages were correlated with provinces. Most users accessed the helpdesk to seek maternal information, and where feedback about health services was provided, there were significantly more compliments than complaints. The MomConnect helpdesk is an important resource providing expectant mothers and mothers of infants with an interactive option for accessing MCH-related information-above that included in the standard MomConnect messages-and advances achievement of the health goals of the MomConnect programme. |
| Competing Interests: | Competing interests: None declared. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: health education and promotion; maternal health |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20180502 Latest Revision: 20191120 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC5922474 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000578 |
| PMID: | 29713509 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Review