mHealth and digital tools for reproductive health

FHI 360 uses information and communications technology (ICT), such as phones, tablets and computers, to improve individuals’ knowledge of and access to quality reproductive health and family planning services. FHI 360 has designed, implemented and researched how these tools — often referred to as mHealth, digital health or ICT4D — can be used to deliver reproductive health information directly to interested men, women and youth. These tools can also be used to improve the quality of counseling by health workers, including community health workers; to support more efficient supervision; and to promote accountability through patient-provider feedback.

FHI 360 is a leader in documenting and sharing evidence on digital health for reproductive health through scientific literature, conferences and technical meetings. We also serve as a founding and advisory board member in the Global Digital Health Network, an international body with more than 2,800 members globally.

TOOLS

  • Mobile for Reproductive Health (m4RH) is an automated, interactive and on-demand short-message service (SMS, or text message) system that provides simple, accurate and globally relevant information. m4RH was one of the first services to put accurate reproductive health information and decision-making directly into the hands of those who need it. M4RH has since expanded its content and adaptation by organizations around the world. The m4RH Toolkit provides tips, lessons learned and costing information for those interested in replicating m4RH or a similar program.
  • FHI 360 developed and tested a mobile-phone based job-aid for community health workers in Tanzania to screen, counsel, provide services for and refer clients for family planning, HIV and sexually transmitted infection. The job aid included features for community health workers to collect and record data that supervisors could monitor. Community health workers and their clients found the mobile job aid to be a highly acceptable family planning support tool.
  • FHI 360 developed apps of our evidence-based family planning screening checklists, which can be viewed on a computer or internet-enabled mobile device.
  • Sema Nasi (Kiswahili for “Talk to Us”) was developed as a mobile phone-based social accountability platform to enable clients to provide feedback on the quality of family planning services they received. Project results fostered accountability to improve service delivery in the participating health facilities.

Guidance documents

Through the K4Health project, FHI 360 has led or contributed to several global guidance documents, including:

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