Mapping the Role of Digital Health Interventions to Enhance Effective Coverage of Antenatal Care: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background

Antenatal care (ANC) is a core component of maternal health services. However, only half of the pregnant women in LMICs obtain WHO recommended minimum of four antenatal contacts. In addition, ANC 4+ is a commonly used indicator in monitoring ANC utilization. However, contact coverage alone provides no indications of service quality. In recent years, digital health interventions bring opportunities to provide quality maternal health care. Yet, there are few reviews on how digital health interventions contribute to improving effective coverage of antenatal care. A rigorous review that examines the role of digital health interventions in improving effective coverage of antenatal care is needed to examine how digital health solutions were rapidly deployed to support quality antenatal care service delivery.

Objective

This review aimed to map evidence on the role of digital health solutions on quality of antenatal care service to enhance effective ANC coverage.

Methods

A scoping review approach was used and four Databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Embase) as well as search engines like Advanced Google Search and Google Scholar were searched from September 1 to 8, 2022. Thematic content analysis was used to present the findings.

Results

A total of 1701 articles were searched. A total of 27 full-text studies were included in the final analysis. The most reported use of digital health was for client education and behavior change communication. Most studies showed that digital health interventions have proven effective in improving antenatal care. However, most of the studies did not address to assess the quality of ANC services.

Conclusion

In this review, we found out that digital health solutions targeted at pregnant women can improve antenatal care services. There is body of evidence showing the effectiveness of digital health interventions on a range of maternal health outcomes. Few pieces of literature exist on the use of digital health interventions on the quality of antenatal care services. There is a need for more trial and program evaluation studies that examine the role of digital health interventions on the quality of ANC.

Keywords:

• digital health
• digital interventions
• antenatal care services
• scoping review

Abbreviations

ANC, Antenatal care; ANMS, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives; CHW, Community Health Worker; EMR, Electronic Health Records; EHR, Electronic Health Records; LMICS, Low- and Middle-Income Countries; JBI, Joanna Briggs Institute; MCH, Maternal and Child Health; MeSH, Medical Subject Headings; MFM, mobile for Mother; PCC, Population; Concept; and Context; PNC, Postnatal care; RCT, Randomized Controlled trial; SMS, Short Message Service; SDGS, Sustainable Development Goals; T4MCH, Technology for maternal and child health; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

Data are available upon reasonable request from corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Adane Nigussie and Dessie Abebaw for their willingness to select study and extract data.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution, in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.