Saving maternal and infant lives with affordable technology

• Register: ISRCTN
• Last refreshed on: 24 February 2020
• Main ID: ISRCTN25743783
• Date of registration: 31/01/2017
• Prospective Registration: No
• Primary sponsor: Georgia State University
• Public title: Saving maternal and infant lives with affordable technology
• Scientific title: Affordable technology to serve rural women across literacy barriers to save maternal and infant lives
• Date of first enrolment: 01/05/2015
• Target sample size: 1556
• Recruitment status: Completed
• URL: http://isrctn.com/ISRCTN25743783
• Study type: Interventional
• Study design: Cluster randomised trial (Prevention)
• Phase: Not Applicable

Countries of recruitment

Pakistan

Contacts

• Name: Musharraf Cyan

Key inclusion & exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria:
1. Pregnant women
2. In the first trimester of pregnancy
3. Within the randomly chosen areas within 10 unions of 2 districts of Pakistan

Exclusion criteria:
1. In the second or third trimester of pregnancy
2. Non-pregnant women


Age minimum:
Age maximum:
Gender: Female

Health Condition(s) or Problem(s) studied

Preventable maternal and infant mortality that occurs because of complications during pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Preventable maternal and infant mortality that occurs because of complications during pregnancy.

Intervention(s)

Current intervention as of 27/01/2020:
Discrepancies in the protocol and registry were corrected with a protocol revision submitted to
our IRB on 1-05-14. In the final tally, our subjects received a total of 110 messages (52 before
delivery; 52 after delivery; 6 based on symptoms and complications.
372 participating villages of 2 districts of Pakistan are randomized to one of five groups. Women
in the first trimester of pregnancy are recruited through a house to house survey for
participation in the study. Participation is voluntary and is obtained using approved and standard
informed consent procedures.
Intervention group 1: Women receive two telemessages per week timed with pregnancy and infant care stages.
Intervention group 2: Women receive one telemessage per week timed with pregnancy and
infant care stages.
Intervention group 3: Women receive one telemessage per week without any particular timing
with pregnancy and postpartum stages but in random order to mimic public media messages.
Intervention group 4: Women receive one telemessage per week timed with pregnancy and
infant care stages plus phone balance transfers if additional information accessed.
Control group: Women receive traditional health communication only.
In all groups, the treatment is applied over a period of 18 months. For the intervention groups,
the telemessaging includes general and specific guidance on hygiene and maternal and infant
nutrition, nutritional supplements, use of antenatal care and w

Primary Outcome(s)

Adoption of skilled birth attendance is measured using a survey designed for the purpose of this study and reviewing clinical notes at baseline and 18 months.

Secondary Outcome(s)

1. Adoption of specialist care upon referral is measured using a survey designed for the purpose of this study and reviewing clinical notes at baseline and 18 months
2. Gains in health literacy is measured using a survey designed for the purpose of this study and reviewing clinical notes at baseline and 18 months
3. Vaccination rates of infants at 12 months of age is measured using a survey designed for the purpose of this study and reviewing clinical notes at baseline and 18 months

Secondary ID(s)

H14050

Source(s) of Monetary Support

National Academy of Sciences

Secondary Sponsor(s)

King Edward Medical University

Ethics review

Status:
Approval date:
Contact:

Susan Laury Experimental Economics Center, Shelia L. White Office of Research Integrity, Georgia State University, 06/02/2015, ref: 331936

Results

• Results available: Yes
• Date Completed: 03/02/2018