Utilization of Informal WhatsApp for Pre- and Postnatal Referral Services in the Kwadaso Municipality of Ghana
Author(s)
Kwame S. Safo, BA, MBA, MPhil.
Student chapter president, KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI, Ghana.
Student chapter president, KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI, Ghana.
OBJECTIVES: to assess the utilization of informal WhatsApp for pre-and postnatal referral services in health facilities in Kwadaso Municipality. More specifically, the study assessed the enablers and challenges before and after the utilization of a WhatsApp mHealth for maternal health-related referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional study design using a qualitative method. A purposive sampling method was used for qualitative data using key informant interviews (KIIs) for 13 healthcare professionals (HCPs). This was analyzed thematically.
RESULTS: The utilization of WhatsApp mHealth for maternal health-related referrals among other factors made almost all the respondents mentioned personal smartphone usage and timely response as mHealth enablers. Moreover, challenges mentioned by the majority of respondents include data security & privacy, less knowledge of formal mHealth applications, and after-hours calls & chats.
CONCLUSIONS: The study results show that the use of WhatsApp mHealth for maternal health care referrals can be used as a communication tool for high-risk obstetric referrals. There is a need to continue streamlining inter-municipality facility referral procedures due to challenges associated with the usage of informal WhatsApp which has been recognized as possibly contributing to decreasing mother and child mortality.
METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional study design using a qualitative method. A purposive sampling method was used for qualitative data using key informant interviews (KIIs) for 13 healthcare professionals (HCPs). This was analyzed thematically.
RESULTS: The utilization of WhatsApp mHealth for maternal health-related referrals among other factors made almost all the respondents mentioned personal smartphone usage and timely response as mHealth enablers. Moreover, challenges mentioned by the majority of respondents include data security & privacy, less knowledge of formal mHealth applications, and after-hours calls & chats.
CONCLUSIONS: The study results show that the use of WhatsApp mHealth for maternal health care referrals can be used as a communication tool for high-risk obstetric referrals. There is a need to continue streamlining inter-municipality facility referral procedures due to challenges associated with the usage of informal WhatsApp which has been recognized as possibly contributing to decreasing mother and child mortality.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
HSD122
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
Reproductive & Sexual Health