Evaluation report on m-Health information for female migrant workers

Abstract

    A 12-month m-Health project was conducted to provide a social network and health information services to improve access to reproductive health care services for female migrant workers via low-cost mobile phone messages, use of maps, and free counseling via a hotline and website. After 1 year of project implementation, this evaluation was carried out to describe the m-Health interventions, to measure the impact of those intervention on female migrant workers by tracking their changes in knowledge and practices related to sexual and reproductive health; and to explore the influence of m-Health interventions on other indirect target populations. This evaluation employed a pre-experimental design with two times of information collection – pre – and post-intervention.

Results of data analysis show that all project’s Services were known and used by migrants including registered and new clients. Most participants found that these Services were useful and important for them and for female migrants in general. Project’s Services were useful because of clear,easy-to- understand and confidential contents so unmarried females can ask questions about “sensitive issues” such as safe sex, using contraceptives, STD prevention and so on. The report also finds a significant improvement in knowledge and practices towards reproductive health among female migrants. Puture interventions should consider using mobile network to provide timely information, especially in case of emergency issues like disease outbreaks or disasters; and it is needed to have a good understanding of cultural context and strategies to overcome language and literacy barriers.