This study tested if SMS reminders could improve malaria prevention among pregnant women in Busia County, Kenya. From September 2023 to February 2024, 156 women were randomized into two groups: one received SMS reminders about using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and taking preventive malaria medication (IPTp), while the other did not. ITN use was already high at the start, so … [Read more...] about Can SMS reminders improve utilization of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women in Busia County?
Pregnancy
“Someone is there with you through this [pregnancy] that isn’t seeing you through a negative lens”: Considerations for integrating doula referrals into opioid treatment programs
This study explored how community doulas could support pregnant and parenting individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Focus groups with treatment program staff and doulas highlighted key benefits, including advocacy in healthcare and legal systems, reducing stigma, and aiding recovery. The findings suggest that integrating doula support into opioid treatment programs can … [Read more...] about “Someone is there with you through this [pregnancy] that isn’t seeing you through a negative lens”: Considerations for integrating doula referrals into opioid treatment programs
A Mobile Clinical Decision Support System for High-Risk Pregnant Women in Rural India (SMARThealth Pregnancy): Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in India, with conditions like hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) posing risks. SMARThealth Pregnancy, a mobile-based intervention for community health workers (CHWs), was developed to identify and counsel high-risk pregnant women. In a pilot trial across two … [Read more...] about A Mobile Clinical Decision Support System for High-Risk Pregnant Women in Rural India (SMARThealth Pregnancy): Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
How do family members influence smokeless tobacco consumption during pregnancy in India? Perspectives of pregnant women
In South Asia, smokeless tobacco (ST) use is culturally ingrained. This study explored how family and community health workers influence pregnant women's attitudes and behaviors toward ST use in selected Indian populations. Interviews with pregnant and postpartum women revealed a shift in social norms, with family members increasingly encouraging women to stop using ST during … [Read more...] about How do family members influence smokeless tobacco consumption during pregnancy in India? Perspectives of pregnant women
Usability and acceptance of a mobile health wallet for pregnancy-related healthcare: A mixed methods study on stakeholders’ perceptions in central Madagascar
This study sought to explore the enabling and limiting factors related to the usability and acceptance of the Mobile Maternal Health Wallet (MMHW) intervention during its implementation in Madagascar, Africa. The MMHW was developed for maternal healthcare to mitigate or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for health expenditures. A cross-sectional, mixed methods study was conducted … [Read more...] about Usability and acceptance of a mobile health wallet for pregnancy-related healthcare: A mixed methods study on stakeholders’ perceptions in central Madagascar