Devex: Opinion: Using mobile tech to influence behavior and improve maternal health
Janet Aika Matemu, technology manager, and Lindsay Sanders, communications and development manager, both with Jacaranda Health

“…With the generous support of Johnson & Johnson, Jacaranda Health has piloted a package of mobile technology innovations in its maternity hospitals in Kiambu County, a periurban area on the outskirts of Nairobi. Here’s what Jacaranda Health has learned from these m-health interventions. 1. SMS reminders improved uptake of antenatal care. … 2. SMS service improved uptake of postnatal care among mothers. … 3. Engaging husbands and partners through SMS improved uptake of care. … To enhance the delivery of public services, we need to collaborate with government institutions, academic partners, and philanthropic foundations — bringing the various perspectives together to isolate problems, prototype ideas, and test them in real environments. Doing so will prove that lightweight, successful interventions can be replicated within a public health care setting, leading to culture changes among patients and partners” (12/7).