Every ChildCounts: The Use of SMS in Kenya to Support the Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition & Malaria in Children

Posted by MohiniBhavsar on Jul 06, 2010
Author: 
Berg, Matt, Wariero, James, and Modi, Vijay
Publication Type: 
Report/White paper
Publication Date: 
Oct 2009
Publisher/Journal: 
ChildCount.org
Publication language: 
English
Abstract: 

Baseline under five child mortality in Sauri, Kenya as of 2005 was estimated to be 148 deaths per 1000 live births. By 2008, the rate had dropped to 81 deaths per 1000 live births due to Millennium Village Project (MVP) interventions. A review of child deaths revealed that among other causes, such as malaria, acute febrile illnesses, diarrheal illnesses and HIV, malnutrition contributed to more than 50% of all child deaths. Community health workers (CHWs) led several interventions, namely community-based management of acute malnutrition, home-based testing for malaria and diarrheal illnesses and immediate dispersal of appropriate treatments.

To support these interventions, MVP ran a pilot project where CHWs were equipped with mobile phones to use SMS text messages to register patients and send in their data with the goal of improving child health and empowering community health workers. This report seeks to detail the methods used, illustrate early results and initial findings of the ChildCount mHealth platform that CHWs have now been using since early July of 2009.

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Citation: 
Berg, M., Wariero, J., and Modi, V. (2009). Every Child Counts - The Use of SMS in Kenya to Support the Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition and Malaria in Children Under Five. Retrieved from: http://www.childcount.org/
Every ChildCounts: The Use of SMS in Kenya to Support the Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition & Malaria in Children data sheet 2663 Views
Author: 
Berg, Matt, Wariero, James, and Modi, Vijay
Publication Type: 
Report/White paper
Publication Date: 
Oct 2009
Publisher/Journal: 
ChildCount.org
Publication language: 
English
Abstract: 

Baseline under five child mortality in Sauri, Kenya as of 2005 was estimated to be 148 deaths per 1000 live births. By 2008, the rate had dropped to 81 deaths per 1000 live births due to Millennium Village Project (MVP) interventions. A review of child deaths revealed that among other causes, such as malaria, acute febrile illnesses, diarrheal illnesses and HIV, malnutrition contributed to more than 50% of all child deaths. Community health workers (CHWs) led several interventions, namely community-based management of acute malnutrition, home-based testing for malaria and diarrheal illnesses and immediate dispersal of appropriate treatments.

To support these interventions, MVP ran a pilot project where CHWs were equipped with mobile phones to use SMS text messages to register patients and send in their data with the goal of improving child health and empowering community health workers. This report seeks to detail the methods used, illustrate early results and initial findings of the ChildCount mHealth platform that CHWs have now been using since early July of 2009.

Countries: 
Upload Paper: 
Citation: 
Berg, M., Wariero, J., and Modi, V. (2009). Every Child Counts - The Use of SMS in Kenya to Support the Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition and Malaria in Children Under Five. Retrieved from: http://www.childcount.org/

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