Developing a Conceptual Framework for Research on m Health – Testing the Efficacy of Text Messages for Maternal Healthcare

Abstract

The UN Sustainable Goal Target 3.1 aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. India is on the verge of achieving National Health Policy (NHP) target of 100/lakh live births by 2020 and is poised to achieve the SDG target of 70/ lakh live births by 2030.  The ubiquitous nature of mobile communication and the ease of its usage have prompted the use of mobile applications in the management of diseases and promotion of healthy behaviours. In addition to promoting health education among patients and reducing waiting times and costs of healthcare, m Health enhances patient support, providing a system for emergency response and monitoring. Given that the use of mobile phones as a mode of communication in healthcare is inevitable, it is necessary to assess rural end-user perceptions and experiences with the technology. This study can be a step towards understanding the factors that would make people considers m-Health a feasible solution for their long deprived health needs.  The presence of mobile phones has transformed healthcare into a patient centric, efficient and quality one. Mobile Health (m Health) technologies are widely being promoted as tools to decrease maternal and child mortality around the world. Based on the effectiveness of mobile health interventions across the world, the present study attempts to study the efficacy of text messages in improving the maternal healthcare of the expectant mothers in India.