Telemedicine and Teleexpertise for Pregnancy Monitoring.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Maternal Health
• Healthcare Informatics

Background:

• Prenatal ultrasound access is limited in rural Burkina Faso due to a shortage of qualified professionals.
• Pregnant women often travel to urban centers, impacting regular monitoring and care.
• Paper-based health records contribute to lost or incomplete patient follow-up.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a digital health solution for pregnancy monitoring in rural Burkina Faso.
• To address challenges of limited access to prenatal care and fragmented health records.
• To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prenatal care services.

Main Methods:

• A digital solution based on MedShakeEHR was customized for pregnancy monitoring.
• The system incorporated a unique pregnancy identifier for secure record management.
• Ultrasound imaging was integrated and managed efficiently within the digital platform.

Main Results:

• The digital platform enhanced continuity of care for pregnant women.
• Secure and centralized management of medical records improved data accessibility.
• The system facilitated remote consultations and improved clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• The digital pregnancy monitoring platform shows potential to increase access to quality prenatal care in rural Burkina Faso.
• Improved data management and accessibility can enhance maternal health outcomes.
• Digital health solutions are crucial for overcoming healthcare disparities in underserved areas.