Executive Summary
Despite significant global progress, preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths remain unacceptably high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and fragile settings. Barriers such as limited access to quality healthcare, shortages of skilled health workers, weak health information systems, and geographic and socio-economic inequalities continue to undermine maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes.
Digital health innovations offer transformative opportunities to strengthen MCH services by improving access, quality, continuity of care, and data-driven decision-making. This proposal outlines a comprehensive digital health initiative designed to enhance maternal and child health outcomes through mobile health (mHealth) solutions, digital decision-support tools, telemedicine, and interoperable health information systems. Implemented over four years, the program aims to improve service delivery, empower women and caregivers, and strengthen health system performance in underserved and vulnerable communities.
Background and Problem Statement
Globally, maternal mortality, neonatal deaths, and under-five mortality remain concentrated in settings with weak health systems, poverty, conflict, and limited infrastructure. Women and children often face delays in seeking care, reaching health facilities, and receiving quality services. Poor continuity of care across the antenatal, delivery, postnatal, and early childhood periods further exacerbates risks.
Health systems in many settings rely on paper-based records, fragmented reporting, and limited real-time data, reducing their ability to track high-risk pregnancies, follow up with mothers and children, and allocate resources effectively. At the same time, mobile phone penetration and digital connectivity are rapidly expanding, even in remote areas, creating new opportunities to deliver timely health information and services.
Digital health innovations—when designed with equity, privacy, and user-centered principles—can address systemic gaps by supporting frontline health workers, empowering women with information, and strengthening referral and monitoring systems.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes through equitable, scalable, and integrated digital health innovations.
Specific Objectives
- Increase access to timely, quality MCH services through digital platforms.
- Strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers using digital decision-support tools.
- Improve continuity of care across the MCH lifecycle.
- Enhance health information systems for real-time monitoring and evidence-based planning.
- Empower women, families, and caregivers with reliable health information.
Target Populations and Geographic Focus
Target Populations
- Pregnant and postpartum women
- Newborns, infants, and children under five
- Community health workers, midwives, and nurses
- Caregivers and family members
Geographic Focus
The program will be implemented in selected rural, peri-urban, and underserved areas in low- and middle-income countries, with adaptability for fragile and humanitarian contexts.
Project Components and Key Activities
- Component 1: mHealth Solutions for Women and Caregivers
- Mobile applications and SMS services providing antenatal, postnatal, and child health information
- Appointment reminders, danger sign alerts, and nutrition guidance
- Two-way communication channels for questions and feedback
- Multilingual and low-literacy-friendly content
- Component 2: Digital Tools for Frontline Health Workers
- Mobile decision-support tools aligned with national MCH guidelines
- Digital registers for tracking pregnancies, births, immunizations, and child growth
- Automated risk stratification and follow-up alerts
- Continuous training and digital learning modules
- Component 3: Telemedicine and Remote Support
- Teleconsultations linking community providers with higher-level facilities
- Remote supervision and mentoring for health workers
- Referral coordination for obstetric and pediatric emergencies
- Component 4: Health Information Systems and Data Integration
- Integration with national health management information systems (HMIS)
- Dashboards for monitoring MCH indicators and service coverage
- Data quality improvement and interoperability standards
- Use of anonymized data for planning and resource allocation
- Component 5: Community Engagement and Digital Inclusion
- Community sensitization on digital health tools and data privacy
- Gender-sensitive approaches to ensure women’s access to technology
- Engagement of local leaders and civil society organizations
- Feedback mechanisms to improve usability and trust
Cross-Cutting Themes
- Gender Equality and Equity
- The program prioritizes women’s access to digital tools, addresses digital gender gaps, and supports respectful maternity care.
- Data Protection and Ethics
- Strong safeguards will ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible data use in line with national and international standards.
- Health System Strengthening
- Digital innovations will be embedded within existing systems to avoid fragmentation and promote sustainability.
Expected Results and Outcomes
Key Outputs
- Functional digital platforms for MCH service delivery
- Health workers trained in digital tools and data use
- Improved tracking of pregnancies, births, and child health indicators
- Increased engagement of women and caregivers
Outcomes
- Increased utilization of antenatal, postnatal, and child health services
- Improved early detection and management of high-risk cases
- Enhanced quality and continuity of MCH care
- Strengthened data-driven decision-making at local and national levels
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
The MEL framework will include:
- Baseline and endline assessments of service coverage and outcomes
- Routine monitoring of platform usage and data quality
- User satisfaction and experience assessments
- Adaptive learning to refine digital solutions
Implementation Strategy and Partnerships
The initiative will be implemented through partnerships with:
- Ministries of Health and local health authorities
- Technology providers and innovators
- Local NGOs and community-based organizations
- UN agencies and development partners
A phased rollout and continuous capacity building will ensure effective adoption and scale-up.
Sustainability and Scale-Up
Sustainability will be ensured through government ownership, integration into national systems, capacity transfer, and alignment with digital health strategies. The program is designed for scalability and replication across diverse contexts.
Budget Overview
The indicative budget includes platform development, training, equipment, monitoring, and program management. Cost-effective and open-source solutions will be prioritized.
Conclusion
Digital health innovations have the potential to transform maternal and child health outcomes by closing access gaps, improving quality of care, and strengthening health systems. By placing women, children, and frontline workers at the center, this program will contribute to healthier families and more resilient health systems, aligned with SDG 3 and universal health coverage goals.
