Influence of mobile phone calls on the compliance of the recommended four antenatal care visits in Kisii County, Kenya: a cluster randomized control trial.

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care attendance is still low in sub-Saharan countries. While mobile phones have shown to improve outcomes in maternal health services, there are few published studies on the use of mobile phone calls in antenatal care.

Objective: To determine the influence of mobile phone calls on pregnant women's completion of the recommended 4 ANC visits in Kisii County, Kenya.

Methodology: 16 sub county health facilities (clusters) were randomly assigned to either intervention or routine care. A total of 160 pregnant women were recruited in their first antenatal care visit and followed up until delivery. The intervention involved calling mothers through their mobile phones to give health education on antenatal care every month until delivery. The primary outcome measure was the completion of the 4 recommended antenatal care (ANC) visits while secondary outcome measures were; women receiving iron and folate supplements, and completion of all recommended laboratory tests.

Results: 50% of the women in the intervention group and 35% in the control group completed the four recommended ANC visits. The intervention was not a significant predictor of women receiving iron and folate supplements, RR, 1.07 (0.93 - 1.25), p - value = 0.412. However, the intervention was associated with a 46% increase in women completing all required antenatal care laboratory investigations.

Conclusion: The use of mobile phone calls in antenatal health education show promise in improving antenatal care attendance among pregnant women.