Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35401999›Full record

ArticleDigital health

Challenges in accessing maternal and child health services during COVID-19 and the potential role of social networking technologies.

Angella Musiimenta, Wilson Tumuhimbise, Esther C Atukunda, Sandrah Ayebaza, Phionah Kobutungi, Aaron T Mugaba, Justus Asasira, Godfrey R Mugyenyi, Jane Katusiime, Raphael Zender and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Digital health. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Angella MusiimentaMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1983-696X
Wilson TumuhimbiseMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Esther C AtukundaMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Sandrah AyebazaMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Phionah KobutungiMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Aaron T MugabaMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Justus AsasiraMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3924-0880
Godfrey R MugyenyiMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Jane KatusiimeMbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Raphael ZenderHumboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany.
Niels PinkwartHumboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany.
Jessica E HabererHarvard Medical School, USA.

Funding

Optimizing mHealth for adherence monitoring and interventionK24MH114732 · NIMH · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI HABERER, JESSICA ELIZABETH · 2017 to 2021
$800k
Real time Tuberculosis Medication Adherence Intervention in Rural Southwestern UgandaK43TW010388 · FIC · MBARARA UNIVERSITY/SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY · PI MUSIIMENTA, ANGELLA · 2016 to 2021
$602k
Patient-centered mobile technology interventions to improve maternal health in UgandaK43TW011004 · FIC · MBARARA UNIVERSITY/SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY · PI ATUKUNDA, ESTHER CATHYLN · 2018 to 2022
$542k
My Mobile Wallet: An Intervention to Support Access to Tuberculosis Care and Medication Adherence in Rural UgandaR21HD107985 · NICHD · MBARARA UNIVERSITY/SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY · PI MUSIIMENTA, ANGELLA · 2021 to 2022
$309k
FIC NIH HHS K43 TW010388FIC NIH HHS K43 TW011004NICHD NIH HHS R21 HD107985NIMH NIH HHS K24 MH114732
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic causes new challenges to women and their babies who still need to access postnatal care amidst the crisis. The novel application of social network technologies (SNTs) could potentially enhance access to healthcare during this difficult time. Objectives: This study describes the challenges experienced in accessing maternal and child health services by women with limited or no education during this COVID-19 pandemic and discusses the potential of SNTs to support maternal and child health amidst this crisis. Methods: We administered surveys to women who had recently given birth in a rural setting and interviewed a purposively selected subset to ascertain their experiences of accessing maternal and child health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis involved descriptive analysis of quantitative data using STATA 13 to describe study participants' characteristics, and content analysis of qualitative data to derive categories describing maternal health challenges. Results: Among 50 women, the median age was 28 years (interquartile range 24-34), 42 (84%) completed upper primary education. Access to the health facility was constrained by transport challenges, fear of contracting COVID-19, and delays at the facility. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, 42 (84%) women missed facility visits, 46 (92%) experienced financial distress, 43 (86%) had food insecurity, and 44 (88%) felt stressed. SNTs can facilitate remote and timely access to health services and information, and enable virtual social connections and support. Conclusion: SNTs have the potential to mitigate the challenges faced in accessing maternal and child health services amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Indexed as

COVID-19maternal healthsocial mediasocial networking technologiesUganda

Identifiers

PMID35401999
PMCPMC8984853

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.