MomConnect

Last updated

MomConnect is an initiative of the South African National Department of Health produced by the Praekelt Foundation. It uses cell phone based technology to support maternal health. It is available in all the 11 official South African languages. NurseConnect is a related project for maternity staff. It is the only nationally scaled mHealth platform in Africa.

It was launched by Aaron Motsoaledi in August 2014. More than 900,000 pregnant women signed up for weekly texts by December 2016. A specialist HIV service was started in 2017. [1] The weekly SMS messages continue until the baby's first birthday. [2]

Pregnancies can be easily and quickly registered in the public health system using the system. The calls are free. [3] Nearly 2 million pregnant women and new mothers have used it. [4] From December 2017, it was made available on WhatsApp which allows richer and real-time interaction and makes delivery of personal messages more secure and affordable. [5]

The Helpdesk makes use of machine learning to help operators address frequently asked questions. The WhatsApp’s built-in location-based services enables users to see their nearest clinics. [6]

In its first five years it had over 2.7 million users, about 80% of pregnancies within the public sector. The helpdesk receives between 1000 and 7000 messages a day. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatbot</span> Program that simulates conversation

A chatbot or chatterbot is a software application used to conduct an on-line chat conversation via text or text-to-speech, in lieu of providing direct contact with a live human agent. Designed to convincingly simulate the way a human would behave as a conversational partner, chatbot systems typically require continuous tuning and testing, and many in production remain unable to adequately converse, while none of them can pass the standard Turing test. The term "ChatterBot" was originally coined by Michael Mauldin in 1994 to describe these conversational programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teenage pregnancy</span> Pregnancy in human females under the age of 20

Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female adolescent under the age of 20, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO defines adolescence as the period between the ages of 10 and 19 years. Pregnancy can occur with sexual intercourse after the start of ovulation, which can be before the first menstrual period (menarche) but usually occurs after the onset of periods. In well-nourished girls, the first period usually takes place around the age of 12 or 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual and reproductive health</span> State of the reproductive system without evidence of disease, disorders, or deficiencies

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, healthcare, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's reproductive system and sexual wellbeing during all stages of their life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection</span> Former online multiplayer gaming service

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC) was an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS and Wii games. The service included the company's Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop game download services. It also ran features for the Wii and Nintendo DS systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kijiji</span> Canadian classified advertising website

Kijiji.ca is a Canadian online classified advertising website and part of eBay Classifieds Group, which was acquired by Adevinta in 2020. It operates sections for cities and urban regions, for posting local advertisements. Kijiji was launched in February 2005 as an eBay subsidiary and became part of the eBay Classifieds Group in 2007. The Kijiji brand is used in more than 100 cities in Canada and with kijiji.it in Italy, while eBay Classifieds websites are available under different brands in other countries. Kijiji parent is Dutch company Marktplaats BV since 2005, which is part of the same group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pre-exposure prophylaxis</span> HIV prevention strategy using preventative medication for HIV-negative individuals

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of medications to prevent the spread of disease in people who have not yet been exposed to a disease-causing agent, usually a virus. The term typically refers to the use of antiviral drugs as a strategy for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. PrEP is one of a number of HIV prevention strategies for people who are HIV negative but who have a higher risk of acquiring HIV, including sexually active adults at increased risk of contracting HIV, people who engage in intravenous drug use, and serodiscordant sexually active couples.

BabyCenter is an online media company based in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles that provides information on conception, pregnancy, birth, and early childhood development for parents and expecting parents. BabyCenter operates 9 country and region specific properties including websites, apps, emails, print publications, and an online community where parents can connect on a variety of topics. Users of the website can sign up for free weekly email newsletters that guide them through pregnancy and their child's development.

Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. In most cases, maternal health encompasses the health care dimensions of family planning, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care in order to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience. In other cases, maternal health can reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Maternal health revolves around the health and wellness of pregnant women, particularly when they are pregnant, at the time they give birth, and during child-raising. WHO has indicated that even though motherhood has been considered as a fulfilling natural experience that is emotional to the mother, a high percentage of women develop health problems and sometimes even die. Because of this, there is a need to invest in the health of women. The investment can be achieved in different ways, among the main ones being subsidizing the healthcare cost, education on maternal health, encouraging effective family planning, and ensuring progressive check up on the health of women with children. Maternal morbidity and mortality particularly affects women of color and women living in low and lower-middle income countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PATH (global health organization)</span> Global health nonprofit

PATH is an international, nonprofit global health organization based in Seattle, with 1,600 employees in more than 70 countries around the world. Its president and CEO is Nikolaj Gilbert, who is also the Managing Director and CEO of Foundations for Appropriate Technologies in Health (FATH), PATH's Swiss subsidiary. PATH focuses on six platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, system, and service innovations—to develop innovations and implement solutions that save lives and improve health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HIV/AIDS in Australia</span>

The history of HIV/AIDS in Australia is distinctive, as Australian government bodies recognised and responded to the AIDS pandemic relatively swiftly, with the implementation of effective disease prevention and public health programs, such as needle and syringe programs (NSPs). As a result, despite significant numbers of at-risk group members contracting the virus in the early period following its discovery, the country achieved and has maintained a low rate of HIV infection in comparison to the rest of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WhatsApp</span> Messaging and VoIP service owned by Meta

WhatsApp is an internationally available freeware, cross-platform, centralized instant messaging (IM) and voice-over-IP (VoIP) service owned by American company Meta Platforms. It allows users to send text and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content. WhatsApp's client application runs on mobile devices, and can be accessed from computers. The service requires a cellular mobile telephone number to sign up. In January 2018, WhatsApp released a standalone business app called WhatsApp Business which can communicate with the standard WhatsApp client.

Praekelt.org is an African nonprofit organization dedicated to using mobile technology to improve the lives of people living in poverty. It was founded in 2007 as an offshoot of Praekelt Consulting.

Clearblue is a brand of Swiss Precision Diagnostics that offers consumer home diagnostic products such as pregnancy tests, ovulation tests and fertility monitors.

HIV in pregnancy is the presence of an HIV/AIDS infection in a woman while she is pregnant. There is a risk of HIV transmission from mother to child in three primary situations: pregnancy, childbirth, and while breastfeeding. This topic is important because the risk of viral transmission can be significantly reduced with appropriate medical intervention, and without treatment HIV/AIDS can cause significant illness and death in both the mother and child. This is exemplified by data from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC): In the United States and Puerto Rico between the years of 2014–2017, where prenatal care is generally accessible, there were 10,257 infants in the United States and Puerto Rico who were exposed to a maternal HIV infection in utero who did not become infected and 244 exposed infants who did become infected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet L. Mitchell</span> American physician

Janet L. Mitchell was an American physician known for her advances in perinatal HIV/AIDS treatment. During the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. Mitchell developed protocols for health treatment of pregnant women who were HIV positive or at risk for developing AIDS. She advocated against mandatory testing and testifying before Congress, she advocated in favor of an inclusive approach to health care and social services. One of her innovations derived from a study that saw a 70% decrease in HIV transmission to babies when AZT was administered to their mothers during the pregnancy.

Femtech is a term applied to a category of software, diagnostics, products, and services that use technology often to focus on women's health. This sector includes fertility solutions, period-tracking apps, pregnancy and nursing care, women's sexual wellness, and reproductive system health care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haptik</span>

Haptik is an Indian enterprise conversational AI platform founded in August 2013, and acquired by Reliance Industries Limited in 2019. The company develops technology to enable enterprises to build conversational AI systems that allow users to converse with applications and electronic devices in free-format, natural language, using speech or text. The company has been accorded numerous accolades including the Frost & Sullivan Award, NASSCOM's Al Game Changer Award, and serves Fortune 500 brands globally in industries such as financial, insurance, healthcare, technology and communications.

Microsoft Kaizala is a secure messaging and work management software application for collaboration among users inside and outside of organizations, including the ability to send and receive instant messages, coordinate tasks, and submit invoices. It was launched in India in 2017, thereafter expanded to 28 countries, and was launched globally in April 2019 as part of the Office 365 package. It is available internationally, except in a few countries as a free Android, iOS, and web application. Kai zala is a Marathi phrase that means "What happened?"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Zambia</span> Overview of the status of women in Zambia

The status of women in Zambia has improved in recent years. Among other things, the maternal mortality rate has dropped and the National Assembly of Zambia has enacted multiple policies aimed at decreasing violence against women. However, progress is still needed. Most women have limited access to reproductive healthcare, and the total number of women infected with HIV in the country continues to rise. Moreover, violence against women in Zambia remains common. Child marriage rates in Zambia are some of the highest in the world, and women continue to experience high levels of physical and sexual violence.

Peanut, a product of Peanut App Ltd. is an online community for women who are planning to become pregnant, women who are pregnant, women who have had children, and women who are experiencing menopause. Profiles of potential friends are displayed to users who can swipe up to show intent to connect. Users can also connect with each other via discussion threads, groups, and live audio conversations. The app allows users to select their stage of life, to meet women at a similar life stage, and to discover relevant content.

References

  1. "MomConnect service expands to HIV". Health 24. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  2. "Moms connect with MomConnect programme". Health E News. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  3. "What is MomConnect". South African National Department of Health. 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  4. "Smartphones should fuel the next generation of tuberculosis care". Stat News. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  5. "South African Messaging Wonder MomConnect Launches on WhatsApp". Forbes. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  6. "Praekelt.org and WhatsApp's Enterprise Solution is changing the face of social impact globally". IT News Africa. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  7. "Pregnant women and mothers happy with MomConnect". Health E News. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2022.