Increasing maternal and child health resilience before, during & after disasters using mobile technology in Kavrepalanchok district, Nepal (MANTRA)

Background:

In emergency situations, women of childbearing age do not stop becoming pregnant or giving birth. Humanitarian emergencies often negatively impact health care systems, reproductive health care and maternal health making them more vulnerable. In Nepal, frequent earthquakes and associated landslides pose significant hazards to healthcare infrastructure and remote rural communities. The devastating 2015 Nepal earthquakes killed nearly 9,000, injured 22,500 and left 800,000 in need of shelter. Healthcare infrastructure was severely impacted with over 1000 health facilities damaged or destroyed thus also disrupting the obstetric and neonatal care. In such crises, use of mobile technology which is in increasing trend across Nepal could contribute to reaching groups in particular health care need especially in remote areas where the availability of functioning health services might be minimal.

Objective:

To contribute to an increase in maternal and newborn health resilience before, during and after disasters to strengthen capacities of women and their support networks, through piloting a new mobile technology application, underpinned and validated by scientific evidence.

Methodology:

The study combined formative research, assessment of landslide risks from satellite imagery and field visits, collection of audiovisual material, development and pilot testing of a mobile phone application. Focus group discussions, in-depth Interviews and Key Informant Interviews with various participants, were held to gain insights on risk knowledge and understanding, health and other needs at the time, and opportunities to strengthen the readiness to respond during humanitarian emergencies.

The poster for MANTRA is attached here: