Information support system for maternal and child healthcare

Abstract

Using information technology to reach mothers directly with health information customized to their stage of pregnancy. Mobile phones applications are able to quickly and easily disseminate information that will inform women of ways to care for themselves during pregnancy, dismiss tradition and misconceptions, highlight warning signs, connect women with local health services, reinforce breast feeding practices, explain the benefits of family planning, and make new mothers aware of how best to care for their babies. The aim of this project is to design information support system for maternal and childcare, to identify the current sources of maternal and child healthcare information and the need for a mobile based system, to design a prototype mobile application platform for providing maternal child healthcare information. A software development life cycle (SDLC) methodology of object-oriented approach applied to the study of the design system. Interview and document review were used as a main tool to capture the system requirement along with observation. Unified Modeling Language (UML) development techniques applied in the process of requirements capture, modeling, system analysis and design. SPSS and Visio Software were employed in analysis and design models diagramming. The results of this study show that an expectant women currently access maternal and child healthcare information from the media, brochure (or information sheet), Health extension workers (HEWs) and Health Development Army (HAD). The women in each development group are clustered in one of five networks. In developed countries, mobile phones are widely used to provide maternal and child healthcare information through mobile applications. Accessing maternal and child healthcare information directly to by expectant women and new mothers is an innovative way to empower women to take action to improve their own health and the health of their children and families. The researcher recommends the implementation of the design by Partnerships with health professionals , hospitals and healthcare NGO's to ensure the maternal and child healthcare information they provide, antenatal care clinic , health events and more can be informed the target population by means of mobile applications.