Abstract:

Technological advancement has continued to change patient care by progress in treatment and diagnostics. However, the paper-based referral communication method between the initiating and receiving facility in most developing countries has remained the same. In Zambia, Luapula Provincial Health Office (LPHO) decided to strengthen its referral system by means of moderated WhatsApp, a mobile telecommunication application, to arrest rising maternal mortalities. The current study assessed the impact of the intervention in maternal/neonatal outcomes. The study used a Mixed Method approach. The Quantitative-retrospective cross-sectional design, using a data extract from Mansa General hospital between 2017 and 2020. SPSS v. 25 was used to analyse data. Demographic traits were analysed using descriptive statistics. The impact was assessed using mortality figures from 2016-to 2020 for referrals that did or didn’t use WhatsApp across 8 districts. Two focus group discussions explored the factors leading to the maternal or neonatal patients receiving inadequate and inappropriate care at the receiving facility prior to the intervention. Findings showed that maternal mortalities resulting from referrals (used the intervention) reduced by 99.4% from 2017 to 2020, with only 0.5% mortalities, compared to a 78.5% reduction, with 21.2% recorded mortalities from referrals that did not use WhatsApp. Moderated WhatsApp messaging application had a positive impact in improving maternal and neonatal referral outcomes in Luapula Province.

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