2017 ICT4D Conference

ARMMAN conducted a three year Randomized Cluster trial (RCT), supported by UKAID, in 250 villages in Osmanabad, Solapur and Washim districts of rural Maharashtra, India in 2013 – 2015. The aim of the RCT was to determine whether a) improved access to preventive information during pregnancy and first year of child’s life through a mobile phone voice call and animated film service (mMitra) and b) improved access to after work-hours home based investigation and care during the antenatal period and infancy through trained health entrepreneurs, Arogya Sakhis (ASs) leads to improved health outcomes among rural underprivileged pregnant women and infants. The RCT included three groups: Group A was the control group (84 villages). Group B included 83 villages (623 women). The intervention was mMitra voice and animation: stage based voice calls providing preventive care information were sent weekly/twice a week to the phones of the enrolled women through pregnancy and infancy in the chosen language and timeslot. The AS also provided monthly access to the enrolled women and their families to 8 animations on important pregnancy and infancy care topics. Group C had 83 villages (620 women) and received both interventions: mMitra voice and animations and home based antenatal and infancy care through trained ASs. A preliminary baseline study helped determine baseline knowledge regarding antenatal and infancy care and current health care seeking practices. Midline and endline surveys were conducted at the end of pregnancy and infancy respectively in the three groups using seven impact indicators in three categories: knowledge recall, behavioral change and health seeking behavior and user satisfaction with the home based care and mHealth services. Results of two indicators are detailed here: Proportion of infants who had an episode of diarrhoea in the last six months who received ORS was 82.39% and 88.23% in Groups B and C when compared with baseline (48.6%). 89.32% of the enrolled women received 70% of the voice messages and were satisfied with the content in the midline survey.