using mobile technologies to improve maternal health
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Mobile Technologies for HealthcareAlex Little & Florida Alemayhu
BarCamp Ethiopia 2011
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
mHealth
● Using mobile technologies to improve healthcare
● Lots of potential:● data collection ● point of care support● telemedicine/remote diagnosis
● So far little evidence of what really works and what may be scalable
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Our programme
● As yet, little use of mHealth in Ethiopia● Evalutation of the feasibility of using
mobile technologies (smartphones) to improve maternal health
● Working with Health Extension Workers in Tigray
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Stage 1: HEW interviews
● Interviews with HEWs and assess technical aspects. Findings:● GPRS coverage much better than expected● Technically worked well● Lack of electricity at many health posts● Language/date format● HEWs very keen on using the smartphones
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Stage 2: Smartphones to HEWs
Training HEWs in how to use smartphones and practice using the data collection application
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Protocol development
● Protocol is a standard medical care questionnaire
● Acts as reminder to HEWs to ensure they are asking all the correct information
● Information can be used to help risk assess patients
● HEWs/Midwives can focus on those most at risk of having complications during pregnancy/labour
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Workflow1. Data collected in the field using
smartphones
2. Data automatically uploaded to server whenever GPRS connection available
3. Data instantly available via the scorecard dashboard
1
2
3
Internet
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Scorecard Dashboard
● Graphical display of data submitted
● Highlight patients most at risk
● Missing appointments
● Protocols submitted by each HEW/Midwife
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Hardware
● Used HTC Hero phones – smartphones getting cheaper all the time – could also use any other Android phone
● Solar lamp/chargers● Dual battery chargers
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Solar charging
● Testing out different solar systems for charging phones
● Many different products available, we're testing:● D-light● Glowstar
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Data Collection Applications
● Many different data collection applications:● EpiSurveyor● Sana/OpenMRS● OpenXData● OpenDataKit (ODK)
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
OpenDataKit
http://opendatakit.org/ ● ODK Aggregate – server app – runs either on
your own server or on Google App Engine
● ODK Collect – client application for Android
● ODK Build – to help build form XML
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Ge'ez keyboard
To help HEWs enter data – they can use a Ge'ez keyboard for entering Amharic/Tigrinyan text
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Customised Client app
Developed the ODK Client application so dates can be entered in Ethiopian data format
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Pregnancy Calculator
Developed a small Android app to help calculate the expected delivery date
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Scorecard Development
● Developed in PHP
● Links to ODK database
● Still under development - getting feedback from medical professionals
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Overview
● So far, technology is working well● Big test is over the next few months once
the HEWs and midwives start to use the technology for real
● More development needed for the scorecard and client phone applications
http://digital-campus.org© 2011
Thanks!
Further info:
http://digital-campus.org
Alex Little: [email protected]
Florida Alemayhu:[email protected]