Juan Nie|Jennifer B. Unger|Sumner E. Thompson|Marisa Hofstee|Jing Gu|Mary Anne Mercer
Does mobile phone ownership predict better utilization of maternal and newborn health services? a cross-sectional study in Timor-Leste
Sun Yat-sen University|University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington|Sun Yat-sen University|University of Washington
increasingly popular mobile health mhealth programs proposed promote better utilization maternal newborn child health services however women lack access mobile phone often left mhealth programs research study determine whether household mobile phone ownership independent predictor utilization maternal newborn health services timorleste study included 581 women aged 1549 years child age two years districts manufahi ainaro timorleste participants interviewed via structured survey knowledge practices coverage maternal child health services additional questions related ownership utilization mobile phones mobile phone ownership exposure variable dependent variables included least four antenatal care visits skilled birth attendance health facility delivery postnatal checkup within 24 h neonatal checkup within 24 h youngest child logistic regression models applied assess associations sixtyseven percent women reported least one mobile phone family women mobile phone significantly likely higher socioeconomic status utilize maternal newborn health services however adjusting socioeconomic factors household mobile phone ownership independently associated dependent variables evaluations effects mhealth programs health population need consider likelihood socioeconomic differentials indicated mobile phone ownership