Gender transformative approaches in mHealth for maternal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

BackgroundThis review focuses on studies about digital health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Digital health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly adopting gender-transformative approaches to address factors that derail women's access to maternal healthcare services. However...

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Main Authors: Ogochukwu Udenigwe (Author), Olumuyiwa Omonaiye (Author), Sanni Yaya (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-11-01T00:00:00Z.
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100 1 0 |a Ogochukwu Udenigwe  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Olumuyiwa Omonaiye  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Olumuyiwa Omonaiye  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Sanni Yaya  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Sanni Yaya  |e author 
245 0 0 |a Gender transformative approaches in mHealth for maternal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review 
260 |b Frontiers Media S.A.,   |c 2023-11-01T00:00:00Z. 
500 |a 2673-253X 
500 |a 10.3389/fdgth.2023.1263488 
520 |a BackgroundThis review focuses on studies about digital health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Digital health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly adopting gender-transformative approaches to address factors that derail women's access to maternal healthcare services. However, there remains a paucity of synthesized evidence on gender-transformative digital health programs for maternal healthcare and the corresponding research, program and policy implications. Therefore, this systematic review aims to synthesize evidence of approaches to transformative gender integration in digital health programs (specifically mHealth) for maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodThe following key terms "mobile health", "gender", "maternal health", "sub-Saharan Africa" were used to conduct electronic searches in the following databases: PsycInfo, EMBASE, Medline (OVID), CINAHL, and Global Health databases. The method and results are reported as consistent with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Data synthesis followed a convergent approach for mixed-method systematic review recommended by the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute).ResultsOf the 394 studies retrieved from the databases, 11 were included in the review. Out of these, six studies were qualitative in nature, three were randomized control trials, and two were mixed-method studies. Findings show that gender transformative programs addressed one or more of the following categories: (1) gender norms/roles/relations, (2) women's specific needs, (3) causes of gender-based health inequities, (4) ways to transform harmful gender norms, (5) promoting gender equality, (6) progressive changes in power relationships between women and men. The most common mHealth delivery system was text messages via short message service on mobile phones. The majority of mHealth programs for maternal healthcare were focused on reducing unintended pregnancies through the promotion of contraceptive use. The most employed gender transformative approach was a focus on women's specific needs.ConclusionFindings from gender transformative mHealth programs indicate positive results overall. Those reporting negative results indicated the need for a more explicit focus on gender in mHealth programs. Highlighting gender transformative approaches adds to discussions on how best to promote mHealth for maternal health through a gender transformative lens and provides evidence relevant to policy and research. Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42023346631. 
546 |a EN 
690 |a digital health 
690 |a mHealth 
690 |a maternal health 
690 |a gender integration 
690 |a gender transformative 
690 |a sub-Saharan Africa 
690 |a Medicine 
690 |a R 
690 |a Public aspects of medicine 
690 |a RA1-1270 
690 |a Electronic computers. Computer science 
690 |a QA75.5-76.95 
655 7 |a article  |2 local 
786 0 |n Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol 5 (2023) 
787 0 |n https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1263488/full 
787 0 |n https://doaj.org/toc/2673-253X 
856 4 1 |u https://doaj.org/article/2e94d6e84c3744ab82392d5abb6a4a01  |z Connect to this object online.