Scaling Up a Mobile Platform Delivering Care to Pregnant Mothers and Children

Millions of women and children die every year from preventable causes that occur as a result of complications during pregnancy and the first months following delivery. Proven interventions can prevent two-thirds of newborn deaths and eighty percent of maternal deaths, but barriers to care prevent women from accessing critical screenings and healthcare. Baby Monitor is a remote screening and referral system that brings clinical screenings directly to mothers. While prior research has established the validity and reliability of the mobile screenings, continued research must be directed towards bringing these services to scale in areas of need. Effective scaling of a global health technology can best be achieved through the development of a sustainable business model. One useful tool during this process is the SWOT analysis, which lays the groundwork for developing a business plan by outlining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats a venture faces. The SWOT analysis for Baby Monitor is the product of conversations with key local stakeholders (nurses and community health workers) as well as, the utilization of national and district data to depict the context of mobile phone usage and maternal and child health. The system’s human centered design approach has helped to develop key features to maximize uptake and usability. These features, coupled with the widespread opportunities for Baby Monitor to serve as a platform for other mobile health initiatives, have positioned the project well to be the most effective medium of reaching mothers and improve the productivity of the local healthcare system.