*9.1.3 South Africa*

• Mom connect

*Utilisation of Digital Health in Early Detection and Treatment of Pre-Eclampsia in Primary… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101228*

Mom connect is a South African client-focused digital mHealth initiative utilised by pregnant women and puerperia's through any mobile device integrated with maternal and child health services via messages in all 11 official languages [57]. Mom connect has registered over more than 60% of gravid women nationally and registered approximately 1.7 million subscribers since 2014, maternal health service will improve maternal health services and most patients were enthusiastic about utilisation of the mHealth [58].

• Essential Medicine guidance

Essential medicine (EM) guidance is a provider-focused digital health app initiative that encompasses 12 local clinical guidelines and decision-making tools for HCP. Moreover, EM guidance assists the HCP in accurately diagnosing and management of conditions such as pre-eclampsia utilising South Africa's comprehensive evidence-based medicine sources [59].

#### **9.2 Telemedicine and telehealth**

• SAFE@HOME

SAFE@HOME is a digital health platform designed to monitor daily blood pressure monitoring and symptoms amongst women with chronic hypertension, history of pre-eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in the Netherlands [7]. The evaluation of the care telepath noted a significantly minimal admission amongst women of hypertension and suspected pre-eclampsia with the utilisation of the SAFE@ HOME tele monitoring. Moreover, telemonitoring of blood pressure amongst women is feasible in high-risk patient for early detection and has the potential to change antenatal care (ANC) [7].

#### **9.3 Medical social media**

Social media platforms are regarded as one of the digital health initiatives widely. A cross sectional study to determine how individuals used social media for evidence maternity care stated that women were highly engaged in utilising social media to access and share maternity information [60]. Furthermore, the utilisation of maternal health care services was significantly higher amongst women who were exposed to mass media across countries and such women were 46–86% likely to receive ANC [61].

A study conducted in Ota, Nigeria to identify sources of maternal health awareness and examine the means of access to maternal information corroborated that the internet was the most used source to access maternal health awareness services at 49% and followed by adverts and campaigns at 30.6% [62]. In addition, apps claim to sanction for greater convenience, connectivity and efficiency. Social media such as Facebook have many users and allow women to access and share information with other moms with regards to their pregnancy [63].

#### **9.4 Digitised health record platforms**

Digitised health records systems are technological innovations adopted by numerous health institutions. A study indicated that the use of electronic medical records for maternal and child care and health most like improve health care; as supported by the results that the women who had prenatal care visits with the HCP who adopted the electronic health record (EHR) were most likely to have well-child visits [64]. A qualitative analysis of the user of EHR in the maternity care environment described it as being favourably, whilst other midwives are shown limited understanding of the EHR [65]. However, a systematic review in South Africa to identify success factors for the implementation of EHRs identified social, technical and environmental barriers, i.e. lack of supporting infrastructure, political influence, legislation and regulations, user's training and commitment, and lack of structure implementation and management [66].
