Using mHealth Interventions to Improve Prenatal Care and Birth Outcomes in the United

StatesBy: Akimi Smith

Background§ Negative birth outcomes persistent in US§ Short-term and long-term consequences§ Access to prenatal care

What is mHealth?

§ Using mobile phones and communication devices to deliver health services and information

mHealth and Prenatal

Care

§ High compliance and usability § Improved nutrition and physical activity§ Increased attendance in prenatal appointments

mHealth and Prenatal Care

in the US

§ High compliance and usability § Increased attendance in prenatal appointments§ Improved prenatal vitamin intake and awareness of

smoking and consuming alcohol§ Form of social support

Limitations§ Information and privacy issues§ Lack of access to healthcare and technology

§ Rural/underserved population

Conclusions§ mHealth interventions feasible and acceptable § Further research needed to evaluate effectiveness

§ Randomized control trials

Public Health

Implications

§ Increase access to prenatal care§ Improve birth outcomes§ Minority and underserved populations

§ Racial Disparities in MCH

Acknowledgements

§ Making Lifelong Connections

§ Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University

§ Maternal and Child Health Certificate Program at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University

§ Women’s and Children’s Center at Emory University

Questions?

References

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