March 12, 2025

Mobile WACh NEO trial results on the impact of interactive text communication on neonatal mortality in Kenya

Each year, approximately 40,000 neonatal deaths occur in Kenya. While a vast majority of these deaths are preventable, newborn care practices and clinical care seeking may be delayed by several factors including lack of knowledge, decision making ability, and poor quality of care. To support mothers during this critical phase, researchers from UW Department of Global Health/Global WACh, Kenyatta National Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital designed the Mobile WACh NEO randomized controlled trial.

Mobile WACh NEO utilized texting communication to provide information, motivation, and real time decision support to mothers in Kenya to help them identify and seek care for neonatal illness. Aiming to determine the effect of tailored, texting communication on neonatal mortality, the study had surprising results: the intervention did not reduce neonatal mortality rates but did increase clinical care seeking.

Read the full Mobile WACh NEO trial paper here: https://lnkd.in/gBp4Qymx

Via the UW Department of Global Health