mHealth for Mothers in Myanmar and Mizoram (mUMMM)

Project Title: mHealth for Mothers in Myanmar and Mizoram (mUMMM)

Project Description: The mHealth for Mothers in Myanmar and Mizoram (mUMMM) study is aimed at improving maternal healthcare in Myanmar and in the Mizoram State of India through mHealth technology. This is an opportunity to learn from and contribute to a collaborative team from Columbia University and two organizations in India, to develop and implement innovative mobile health solutions for displaced populations. You'll collaborate with local health professionals to digitize health records and gather vital data, providing a lifeline to pregnant women in remote areas. This project will not only enhance your medical expertise but also contribute significantly to improving maternal health outcomes in underserved communities.

The long-term goal of this research is to reduce maternal mortality rates in Mizoram, India by improving the quality and timeliness of population health surveillance as well as improving maternal and child health outcomes. Currently, maternal health surveillance data in some regions of the Mizoram State is sparse (e.g., in the Siaha District). Our goal is to support population health surveillance data collection to inform maternal and child health needs in Mizoram State with the future goal improving utilization of health services and increasing the prevalence of attended births by a skilled provider and successful transfers for high-risk pregnancies to a hospital. The World Health Organization-India (WHO-India) has identified quality of maternal and child health as a priority to reduce the maternal and child mortality rate. In particular, the aims of the study are as follows:

• Aim 1: Evaluate the quality of data collected using an mHealth population health surveillance application and refine to optimize quality. We will review the population health surveillance data that will be collected by health workers using mHealth and then gain feedback from health workers to refine the mHealth data collection application and procedures to optimize data quality.
• Aim 2: Assess the feasibility and acceptability of periodic, longitudinal data collection using mHealth from pregnant women. Participants may also be surveyed or interviewed regarding their experience, in addition to the collection of population health surveillance information. Women may be screened and referred for follow-up to local health authorities for common pregnancy health concerns such as anemia, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes.

Student Participation: Remote

Number of Students: no limit