Martina Anto-Ocrah|Ryan J. Latulipe|Tiffany E. Mark|David Adler|Tasneem Zaihra|Joseph W. Lanning
Exploring association of mobile phone access with positive health outcomes and behaviors amongst post-partum mothers in rural Malawi
University of Pittsburgh|Presbyterian Hospital|Cornell University|Johns Hopkins Medicine|Johns Hopkins University|University of Rochester|Lahey Hospital and Medical Center|SIT Graduate Institute
access mass media emerging technologies eg cell phones internet social media social determinant health shown profoundly influence womens health outcomes african region women rural settings limited access care vulnerable maternal mortality pregnancyrelated morbidities mobile phone access important lifesaving health determinantthe goal study examine association mobilecellular phone ownership health behaviors postpartum mothers rural malawiin crosssectional study recruited consented convenient sample 174 postpartum mothers 4 5montholds attending wellchild clinics gowa situated rural ntcheu district malawi using logistic regression models hypothesized compared noncell phone owners mobile phone ownership predictive greater odds antenatal visit frequency exclusive breastfeeding knowledge practices healthseeking behaviors involvement motherhood support groups protective lower odds infant illnesses breastfeeding challenges postpartum depressive symptomsmobile phones highly prevalent rural setting 45 n 79 postpartum women indicating owned least one cell phone cell phone owners tended higher levels education p 0012 wealth p 0001 interestingly mobile phone ownership associated exclusive breastfeeding practices phone owners 75 lower odds exclusively breastfeeding adj 025 95 ci 007092 p 0038 multivariable models though statistically significant clinically meaningful cell phone ownership associated fewer depressive symptoms adj 084 95 ci 039184 p 067 social support adj 114 95 ci 061213 p 070digital literacy internet connectivity social determinants health thus delving deeper mothers digital experiences identify ameliorate unique barriers full digital access crucial successful implementation digital interventions address postpartum challenges women hardtoreach settings interventions even greater relevance covid19 pandemic increased urgency reaching vulnerable marginalized populations