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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

6 de julio de 2026 actualizado por: Adeline A Boatin, Massachusetts General Hospital

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.

Descripción general del estudio

Estado

Terminado

Condiciones

Intervención / Tratamiento

Descripción detallada

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.

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Actual)

71

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Ubicaciones de estudio

      • Mbarara, Uganda
        • Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Niño
  • Adulto
  • Adulto Mayor

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant women between ≥28 weeks and <39 weeks' gestation Receiving antenatal care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), Uganda Planning to deliver at MRRH Known gestational age

Antenatally identified by a clinician as having an indication for planned pre-labor cesarean delivery, including:

Two or more prior cesarean deliveries Prior classical cesarean delivery Prior myomectomy Prior uterine rupture Persistent breech presentation Access to a mobile phone (personal, household, or community) Able to provide informed consent Able to communicate in English or Runyankole

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Signs or symptoms of labor at enrollment Obstetric complications requiring immediate evaluation or delivery No access to a mobile phone Unable to communicate in English or Runyankole

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Cuidados de apoyo
  • Asignación: N / A
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación de un solo grupo
  • Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: SMS and IVR Educational Intervention
Participants received the SMS and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) educational intervention in addition to routine antenatal care. Automated educational messages were delivered in English or Runyankole approximately 14, 7, and 2 days before the participant's scheduled pre-labor cesarean delivery. Message content provided reminders of planned cesarean dates and reinforced routine antenatal counseling and included information on timing of delivery, recognition of maternal danger signs, transportation and financial planning, family preparation, and perioperative expectations. Participants continued to receive all standard clinical care throughout the stud
Participants received an automated educational intervention delivered through Short Message Service (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) in English or Runyankole. Messages were scheduled approximately 14, 7, and 2 days before each participant's planned pre-labor cesarean delivery and reinforced routine antenatal counseling. Educational content included the recommended timing of delivery, recognition of maternal danger signs requiring urgent evaluation, transportation and financial planning, family preparation, and perioperative expectations for cesarean delivery. Participants received one IVR message at each scheduled time point, two SMS messages at the 14- and 7-day time points, and one SMS message at the 2-day time point. Participants continued to receive routine antenatal care throughout the study

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Successful delivery of SMS and IVR messages
Periodo de tiempo: 14, 7, and 2 days before scheduled cesarean delivery
Proportion of scheduled SMS and IVR messages successfully delivered to participants, as confirmed by the messaging platform. Delivery was assessed among participants who remained pregnant and eligible to receive messages at each scheduled time point.
14, 7, and 2 days before scheduled cesarean delivery
Participant acceptability of SMS and IVR messages
Periodo de tiempo: Post-delivery, before hospital discharge or 1 to 2 weeks after scheduled delivery date
Proportion of participants reporting that the SMS and IVR messages were understandable, useful, satisfactory, and acceptable based on a post-delivery acceptability questionnaire
Post-delivery, before hospital discharge or 1 to 2 weeks after scheduled delivery date

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Patrocinador

Colaboradores

Investigadores

  • Investigador principal: Adeline A Boatin, MD MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Actual)

11 de junio de 2024

Finalización primaria (Actual)

17 de abril de 2025

Finalización del estudio (Actual)

30 de junio de 2025

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

6 de julio de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

6 de julio de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

10 de julio de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

10 de julio de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

6 de julio de 2026

Última verificación

1 de julio de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Otros números de identificación del estudio

  • 2024P000837

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

SÍ

Descripción del plan IPD

De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in publications arising from this study will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request to the study investigators, subject to institutional approvals, execution of an appropriate data use agreement, and applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.

Marco de tiempo para compartir IPD

12 months after publication of the primary manuscript

Criterios de acceso compartido de IPD

Available to qualified researchers who submit a methodologically sound proposal and execute a data use agreement, subject to institutional and ethics approvals

Tipo de información de apoyo para compartir IPD

  • PROTOCOLO DE ESTUDIO
  • CIF

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .