Title
A WhatsApp-Based Intervention to Improve Maternal Social Support and Maternal–Child Health in Southern Brazil: The Text-Message Intervention to Enhance Social Support (TIES) Feasibility Study
Date Issued
01 January 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Trude A.C.B.
Martins R.C.
Martins-Silva T.
Blumenberg C.
Carpena M.X.
Del-Ponte B.
Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)
Abstract
Participatory learning and action cycles with women’s groups have been recommended by the WHO to promote maternal and newborn health, but few studies have tested its feasibility and acceptability in mobile health (mHealth) interventions among mothers of toddlers. This was a mixed-method feasibility assessment of an 8-week WhatsApp-based maternal support group for mothers of toddlers (12–18 months of age) enrolled in a birth cohort study in Southern Brazil. Daily messages and weekly activities were sent by moderators to promote maternal–child outcomes: child nutrition, child sleep, nurturing care, and maternal psychosocial well-being (assessed pre- and post-intervention via self-reported questionnaire). The implementation and engagement of the mothers in the program were assessed by message extraction. Acceptability was evaluated through in-depth interviews (n = 5) and open-ended surveys (n = 10). 1481 messages were exchanged in 3 WhatsApp groups (n = 30 mothers). Mothers were most active on weekdays (68.6% of messages sent on Tuesdays and 72.6% on Thursdays), afternoons (2:00–4:00pm), and evenings (9:00–11:00 pm). Engagement was higher at weeks 1–4. Mothers enjoyed and considered topics relevant. Group interaction was perceived as low, which influenced their participation. The prevalence of depression symptoms decreased from pre- to post-intervention (9% to 5%; P =.04). A moderated mobile-based support group for mothers of toddlers was feasible. mHealth services to promote maternal support are a promising strategy to improve maternal–child outcomes, but engagement and use of the service remains a challenge. Program managers should work with community members to identify ways to support engagement and participation throughout the intervention.
Volume
58
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Pediatría Temas sociales
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85116631233
Source
Inquiry (United States)
ISSN of the container
00469580
Sponsor(s)
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was in part financed by the “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPQ) - Grant number 433426/2018-7. CNPq had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or report writing. All authors had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. The authors would like to thank the mothers who participated in this study, who were willing to exchange experiences allowing the study to be carried out. We are grateful to the Federal University of Rio Grande, especially to the Rio Grande birth cohort study. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was in part financed by the ?Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico ? (CNPQ) - Grant number 433426/2018-7. CNPq had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or report writing. All authors had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus