Midwives' Acceptance of Using mHealth to Improve Data Quality of a Maternal and Child Health Program in Bogor Regency, Indonesia: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

Abstract

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) remains an important agenda item in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unfortunately, despite strong commitments, the Maternal Mortality Ratio in Indonesia remains high. Program performance is the main factor that can reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio. Improving midwife performance must be supported by the availability of quality data. However, midwives still experience problems with the quality data in the MCH services.

The study objectives are, a) implementing a data quality assurance mechanism in mHealth, b) assessing the extent to which midwives accept mHealth for use in their daily work, and c) exploring the obstacles faced by the midwives in using mHealth.

This study used mixed methods. We firstly reported on how the data quality assurance mechanism has been implemented to apply the 4C principles, consisting of Completeness, Correctness, Currentness, and Consistency to mHealth. Secondly, a quantitative assessment of midwife acceptance of the designed mHealth was conducted for all midwives working in all 11 villages in Babakan Madang Sub-District, Bogor Regency, using an online format of the Technology Acceptance Model questionnaire comprising 20 questions. Thirdly, the study exploring the challenges faced by the midwives in the use of mHealth through open-ended questions.

The MCH data generated by mHealth met the data quality principles of 4C. Midwives in the villages showed their enthusiasm for using the mHealth, and the TAM assessment showed that 93% of the midwives agreed that mHealth was useful for their work, 100% agreed that mHealth was easy to use, 95% reported that they had received training, 82% reported that they were interested in using mHealth and would recommend mHealth to fellow midwives, 91% reported that Android smartphones and internet connection facilities are available to use mHealth, and 76% stated that mHealth supports their daily work. One of the challenges of using the mHealth is the lack of integration with the Public Health Center information system.

The mHealth system produces quality data that can improve the current poor data quality, and this application can be easily used by midwives. The midwives generally accepted the application and agreed that mHealth helps with their daily work in MCH services.

-