Education of Pregnant Women With a Prenatal Indication for Cesarean Section Through Periodic Short Message Service (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) in Uganda

Overview

Women with antenatally identified indications for planned pre-labor cesarean delivery in low-resource settings frequently present in labor before their scheduled delivery, resulting in emergency cesarean delivery and increased maternal and neonatal risk. Contributing factors include limited continuity of care between antenatal and intrapartum services and insufficient cesarean-specific birth preparedness counseling. This prospective pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile health (mHealth) educational intervention using Short Message Service (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to support birth preparedness among pregnant women with antenatal indications for planned pre-labor cesarean delivery receiving care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda. Participants received automated educational SMS and IVR messages in English or Runyankole at 14, 7, and 2 days before their scheduled cesarean delivery. Message content focused on timing of delivery, recognition of warning signs, logistical planning, and perioperative preparation. The primary objectives were to evaluate the feasibility of delivering SMS and IVR messages to high-risk pregnant women and the acceptability of the intervention among participants. Findings from this pilot are intended to inform the development and future evaluation of larger mHealth interventions designed to improve continuity of care and preparedness for planned cesarean delivery in low-resource settings.

Planned pre-labor cesarean delivery is recommended for several antenatally identified obstetric conditions to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with labor. In many low-resource settings, however, women with known indications for planned cesarean delivery frequently present after labor has begun, resulting in emergency cesarean delivery. Strengthening continuity of care between antenatal care and delivery through standardized patient education may improve preparedness for scheduled delivery. This prospective, single-arm pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile health (mHealth) educational intervention using Short Message Service (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) among pregnant women with antenatal indications for planned pre-labor cesarean delivery receiving care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in southwestern Uganda. Eligible participants were pregnant women between 28 and less than 39 weeks' gestation who had a clinician-determined indication for planned pre-labor cesarean delivery, intended to deliver at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, had access to a mobile phone within their household or community, and were able to provide informed consent in English or Runyankole. Women with signs of labor or obstetric complications requiring immediate delivery at enrollment were excluded. The intervention consisted of automated educational SMS and IVR messages delivered through the EngageSpark platform in the participant's preferred language. Messages were scheduled approximately 14, 7, and 2 days before the planned cesarean delivery date. Educational content included: Recommended timing of planned cesarean delivery Recognition of maternal danger signs requiring urgent evaluation Transportation and financial planning for delivery Family and caregiver preparation Perioperative expectations and preparation for cesarean delivery Participants were scheduled to receive one IVR message at each time point. Two SMS messages were delivered at the 14-day and 7-day time points, and one SMS message at the 2-day time point. Participants could request follow-up telephone contact if additional clarification was needed. Message delivery and IVR engagement were monitored using automated platform data. The primary objectives were to evaluate implementation outcomes related to feasibility and acceptability. Feasibility outcomes included successful message delivery, participant-reported receipt of messages, and engagement with IVR messages measured by call duration. Acceptability outcomes included participant preferences regarding message modality, timing and frequency of delivery, perceived usefulness, comprehension, satisfaction, and barriers to intervention use. Digital readiness and mobile phone access were also assessed to explore implementation across varying levels of digital access. This pilot study was intended to generate implementation data to refine the intervention and inform the design of future effectiveness studies evaluating the impact of mHealth-supported birth preparedness on timely presentation for planned cesarean delivery and maternal and neonatal outcomes.