Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Apr 27;5(2):120-39.
doi: 10.3390/jpm5020120.

Maternal health phone line: saving women in papua new Guinea

Amanda H A Watson  1   2 , Gaius Sabumei  3 , Glen Mola  4 , Rick Iedema  5
Affiliations

Maternal health phone line: saving women in papua new Guinea

Amanda H A Watson et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a research project which has involved the establishment of a maternal health phone line in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Mobile phones and landline phones are key information and communication technologies (ICTs). This research study uses the "ICTs for healthcare development" model to ascertain benefits and barriers to the successful implementation of the Childbirth Emergency Phone. PNG has a very high maternal mortality rate. The "three stages of delay" typology was developed by Thaddeus and Maine to determine factors that might delay provision of appropriate medical treatment and hence increase risk of maternal death. The "three stages of delay" typology has been utilised in various developing countries and also in the present study. Research undertaken has involved semi-structured interviews with health workers, both in rural settings and in the labour ward in Alotau. Additional data has been gathered through focus groups with health workers, analysis of notes made during phone calls, interviews with women and community leaders, observations and field visits. One hundred percent of interviewees (n = 42) said the project helped to solve communication barriers between rural health workers and Alotau Provincial Hospital. Specific examples in which the phone line has helped to create positive health outcomes will be outlined in the paper, drawn from research interviews. The Childbirth Emergency Phone project has shown itself to play a critical role in enabling healthcare workers to address life-threatening childbirth complications. The project shows potential for rollout across PNG; potentially reducing maternal morbidity and maternal mortality rates by overcoming communication challenges.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Information communication technologies (ICTs) for healthcare development model [10]. (Reproduced with permission from Taylor & Francis, Ltd., www.tandfonline.com on behalf of AMIC / SCI-NTU).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Three stages of delay (diagram based on [25]).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Factors contributing to the three stages of delay (diagram based on [25]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fifer D. Comment. Australian Volunteers International Magazine. Winter. 2010.
    1. Giris J., Rynkiewich T., Dick Kapinias I., Winfrey P. Emerging Issues for Women and Children in Papua New Guinea. Melanesian Institute; Goroka, Papua New Guinea: 2005.
    1. Ministerial Forum . Schedule to the Papua New Guinea—Australia Partnership for Development, Priority Outcome 2: Health and HIV/AIDS. Government of Papua New Guinea and the Government of Australia; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: 2011.
    1. Papua New Guinea Medium Term Development Plan 2011–2015. Department of National Planning and Monitoring; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: 2010.
    1. Papua New Guinea Development Strategic Plan 2010–2030. Department of National Planning and Monitoring; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: 2010.

LinkOut - more resources