A Targeted Mobile Phone Intervention Use in Antenatal Care is Associated with Improved Antenatal and Postnatal Clinic Attendance amongst Pregnant Women in A Pastoralist Community in Narok County, Kenya: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care is a key high impact strategy to improve maternal and child health globally. This study examined the effects of a targeted mobile-phone intervention on ANC and Postnatal Clinic (PNC) attendance in a pastoralist community.

Materials and Methods: An RCT was conducted in Narok County on pregnant mothers recruited early in pregnancy, enrolled and followed up to 42 days postpartum starting in June 2018. The intervention was bi-component; an SMS and a phone call reminder were administered in the intervention arm while the non-intervention group received routine care.

Results: The 131 study participants in the intervention arm had a mean of 4.10 visits (SD 0.76, 95% CI 3.97-4.23). The 128 study participants in the non-intervention arm had a mean of 2.84 visits (SD 0.95, 95% CI 2.68-3.01). The difference in means was 1.256 (95% CI 1.044-1.256), which was statistically significant at a 95% confidence level (p-value <0.0001). For the 60 study participants in the intervention arm, 41.67% (n=25) attended the PNC while 58.33% (n=35) did not attend. The 76 study participants in the non-intervention arm, 21.05% (n=16) attended the PNC while 78.95% (n=60) did not attend. The null hypothesis of there being no difference in the likelihood of a mother attending PNC by study group was rejected (X ² =6.7658, p=0.009).

Conclusion: A targeted mobile-phone intervention improved ANC and PNC attendance in a pastoralist community in Narok, Kenya.