Experiences from Garbha-Swasthya helpline

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Tertiary care hospitals can provide valuable remote support for pregnancy-related issues.
• Telephone helplines offer accessible avenues for health information dissemination.
• Understanding caller demographics and query types is crucial for optimizing healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze caller characteristics, call volume, and reasons for contacting the Garbha-Swasthya helpline.
• To identify trends in pregnancy-related inquiries received via telephone.
• To assess the utility and potential for increased utilization of a specialized pregnancy helpline.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of helpline data from September 2010 to December 2012.
• Categorization of 696 voice calls based on caller type, pregnancy stage, and inquiry topic.
• Analysis of call trends and caller demographics, including geographic origin.

Main Results:

• The helpline received 696 calls, primarily from pregnant women (73.3%) and their relatives (24.8%).
• Common inquiries included exposures (27.4%), pre-existing medical conditions, pregnancy complications (18.5%), and delivery/postpartum issues (14%).
• Medical professionals exclusively inquired about drug safety in pregnancy; calls originated mainly from Maharashtra.

Conclusions:

• The Garbha-Swasthya helpline demonstrates a growing demand for pregnancy support services.
• Targeted awareness campaigns are necessary to enhance public and professional engagement with the helpline.
• The helpline serves as a vital resource for addressing diverse pregnancy-related concerns, including drug safety and common medical issues.