Frugal-Oriented Information and Communication Technology for Development Framework Toward Low-Cost Digital Maternal...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Global Health
• Health Systems Strengthening

Background:

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target reduced maternal mortality, yet progress is slow in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to resource constraints.
• Inadequate access to essential maternal health services persists in LMICs, highlighting the need for cost-effective, sustainable, and context-appropriate strategies.
• Digital innovations offer potential but often face adoption barriers in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a frugal-oriented Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) framework for delivering low-cost digital maternal health solutions in LMICs.
• To optimize resource utilization and foster equitable access to maternal health care, contributing to SDG target 3.1.
• To address the gap in essential maternal health services through sustainable and affordable digital interventions.

Main Methods:

• A 2-phased quantitative study was conducted in rural and urban-poor settings in Kenya.
• Phase 1 involved ranking theoretical themes related to maternal health uptake using color-coded cards (N=32).
• Phase 2 utilized structured survey questionnaires to gather empirical data on contextual factors influencing service utilization.

Main Results:

• Resources, information services, and social support programs emerged as the most influential factors in maternal health promotion.
• Resources ranked highest (18.81%), followed by information services (17.99%), and social support programs (9.64%).
• These findings informed the design of a frugal ICT4D framework prioritizing low-cost digital interventions for resource-limited settings.

Conclusions:

• Frugal innovation and ICT4D principles are crucial for designing scalable, low-cost digital health interventions to improve maternal health access in LMICs.
• Adopting these principles can overcome financial and infrastructural constraints hindering the adoption of capital-intensive digital health solutions.
• The proposed framework supports sustainable and equitable maternal health service delivery, advancing progress toward SDG 3, target 3.1.