DIGITAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPROVING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES IN RURAL AREAS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes remain poor in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries due to limited healthcare access, socio-economic barriers, and workforce shortages. Digital health interventions (DHIs)—including mobile health (mHealth), telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools—are emerging as innovative strategies to bridge these gaps. This scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the effectiveness of DHIs in improving MCH outcomes in rural contexts.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and the WHO Global Health Library was conducted for studies published between 2015 and 2023. Eligibility criteria included English-language studies focusing on DHIs for maternal and/or child health in rural populations. Both experimental and observational studies were included. After screening 1,152 articles and applying inclusion criteria, 12 studies were selected and synthesized under maternal and child health outcomes.

Results: The review identified a range of DHIs with positive impacts. mHealth interventions, particularly SMS reminders, improved antenatal care attendance, institutional deliveries, and vaccination coverage. Telemedicine facilitated early detection and management of high-risk pregnancies and pediatric illnesses, reducing delays in care. EHRs enhanced tracking of health indicators and continuity of care, while AI-driven decision support improved timely identification of maternal risk factors. Reported barriers included poor digital literacy, weak infrastructure, limited internet access, and cultural constraints.

Conclusion: Digital health interventions hold significant potential to improve maternal and child health outcomes in rural areas by enhancing service utilization, continuity of care, and early detection of complications. For sustainable scale-up, investments in infrastructure, digital literacy training, and culturally sensitive program design are essential.