Leveraging Mobile Technology to Strengthen the Work of Community Health Workers

Spring CORE Group MeetingApril 25, 2013

Gwyn HainsworthSenior Advisor, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

Contraception

Maternal & Newborn Health

HIV and AIDS

Adolescents

Abortion & Postabortion Care

Advocacy

Core areas

People everywhere have the right and opportunity to live a healthy sexual and reproductive life

Outcome

Capacity Building

Gender Equality

Behavior Change

Cross Cutting Strategies

Strategic Initiatives

mHealth

Population Health and the Environment (PHE)

Cervical CancerSystems Strengthening

CommCare – Case Management

It’s a mobile phone app that can:

• Document questions and answers

• Transmit data when mobile network is available

• Use multimedia• Use logic to step

through a process dynamically

Pathfinder CommCare Projects

Tanzania• D-Tree, start 2008 • 300 CHWs in Dar• Focus on HIV/AIDS• Study with FHI360,

CommCare for FP/HIV Integration

Nigeria• Start in 2012• 20 facilities, 150

CHEWs• Focus on ANC• Study looking at

quality of care

Kenya• Start in 2012• Aiming for 300

CHWs in Nairobi and Coast

• Focus on OVCs and MNCH

The Design and Implementation Process

• Identify challenges at point of care

• Shadow CHWs • Discuss perceptions

and needs with end-users

• Design with scale up and sustainability in mind

• Engage government in the design

Defining the problem

• Design app with the end user

• Field test app; mapping workflows

• Developing counseling and audiovisual tools

• Partnerships for coordination and ownership

Developing the solution

• Refining the app to fit the needs of the CHW

• Integration of mobile into CHW workflow and routine

• Using data to improve supervision

• Engaging government in monitoring and data use

Iterations and monitoring

Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation

Rigorous M&E Plan• Performance indicators• User satisfaction

Integration and use of data• Data standards matched to reporting requirements• Data integration with national HMIS• Cultivating a culture of data use DeRenzi, et al 2012

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Challenges• CHW familiarity with technology• Burden of double reporting• Culture of using data for targeted supervision

Lessons Learned• Define the benefits for the CHW to maximize use • Actively engage governments from the beginning• Show the benefits of using data to improve quality of services

THANK YOU