mHealth Phone Intervention to Reduce Maternal Deaths and Morbidity in Cameroon: Protocol for Translational Adaptation

Henna Budhwani; Comfort Enah; Christyenne L Bond; Gregory Halle-Ekane; Eric Wallace; Janet M Turan; Jeff M Szychowski; Dustin M Long; Waldemar A Carlo; Pius M Tih; Alan T N Tita

doi:10.2147/IJWH.S353919

mHealth Phone Intervention to Reduce Maternal Deaths and Morbidity in Cameroon: Protocol for Translational Adaptation

Int J Womens Health. 2022 May 7:14:677-686. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S353919. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Henna Budhwani^{1

2}, Comfort Enah³, Christyenne L Bond¹, Gregory Halle-Ekane⁴, Eric Wallace⁵, Janet M Turan^{1

2

6}, Jeff M Szychowski⁷, Dustin M Long⁷, Waldemar A Carlo⁸, Pius M Tih⁹, Alan T N Tita^{2

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
² Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
³ School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁵ Depatrment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁶ School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
⁷ Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁸ Depatrment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁹ Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon.
¹⁰ Depatrment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this NIH-funded protocol is to adapt (Aim 1) and pilot test (Aim 2) an mHealth intervention to improve maternal and child health in Cameroon. We will adapt the 24/7 University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Information Service via Telephone (MIST) provider support system to mMIST (mobile MIST) for peripheral providers who provide healthcare to pregnant and postpartum women and newborns in Cameroon.

Methods: In Aim 1, we apply qualitative and participatory methods (in-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders) to inform the adaptation of mMIST for use in Cameroon. We use the sequential phases of the ADAPT-ITT framework to iteratively adapt mMIST incorporating qualitative findings and tailoring for local contexts. In Aim 2, we test the adapted intervention for feasibility and acceptability in Ndop, Cameroon.

Results: This study is ongoing at the time that this protocol is published.

Conclusion: The adaptation, refinement, and pilot testing of mMIST will be used to inform a larger-scale stepped wedged cluster randomized controlled effectiveness trial. If successful, this mHealth intervention could be a powerful tool enabling providers in low-resource settings to deliver improved pregnancy care, thereby reducing maternal and fetal deaths.

Keywords: intervention; mHealth; maternal health; mobile applications; pregnancy.

Grants and funding

R21 HD103061/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States