Application of smart phone in "Better Border Healthcare Program": a module for mother and child care

Abstract

Background: To assess the application of cell phone integrating into the healthcare system to improve antenatal care (ANC) and expanded programme on immunization (EPI) services for the under-served population in border area.

Methods: A module combining web-based and mobile technology was developed to generate ANC/EPI visit schedule dates in which the healthcare personnel can cross-check, identify and update the mother's ANC and child's EPI status at the healthcare facility or at the household location when performing home visit; with additional feature of sending appointment reminder directly to the scheduled mother in the community.

Results: The module improved ANC/EPI coverage in the study area along the country border including for both Thai and non-Thai mothers and children who were either permanent resident or migrants; numbers of ANC and EPI visit on-time as per schedule significantly increased; there was less delay of antenatal visits and immunizations.

Conclusions: The module integrated and functioned successfully as part of the healthcare system; it is proved for its feasibility and the extent to which community healthcare personnel in the low resource setting could efficiently utilize it to perform their duties.

Figure 1

Conceptual framework and work flow of MCCM.

Figure 2

Screen shots of appointment schedule and update visit status.

Figure 3

Screen shots of ANC/EPI visits (case history & location map).

Figure 4

Gestational age at ANC scheduled visits before and after MCCM.