Abstract
Maternal and child nutrition has been a critical component of health, sustainable development, and progress in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). While a decrement in maternal mortality is an important indicator, simply surviving pregnancy and childbirth does not imply better maternal health. One of the fundamental obligations of nations under international human rights law is to enable women to endure pregnancy and delivery as an aspect of their enjoyment of reproductive and sexual health and rights and to live a dignified life. The aim of this study was to discover the correlation between the Maternal Observation and Motivation (MOM) program and m-Health support for maternal and newborn health. A comparative study was done among 196 pregnant mothers (study group—94; control group—102 mothers) with not less than 20 weeks of gestation. Maternal outcomes such as Hb and weight gain and newborn results such as birth weight and crown–heel length were obtained at baseline and at 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. Other secondary data collected were abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, major congenital malformations, twin or triplet pregnancies, physical activity, and maternal well-being. The MOM intervention included initial face-to-face education, three in-person visits, and eight virtual health coaching sessions via WhatsApp. The baseline data on Hb of the mothers show that 31 (32.98%) vs. 27 (28.72%) mothers in the study and control group, respectively, had anemia, which improved to 27.66% and 14.98% among study group mothers at 28 and 36 weeks of gestation (p < 0.001). The weight gain (p < 0.001), level of physical activity (p < 0.001), and maternal well-being (p < 0.01) also had significant differences after the intervention. Even after controlling for potentially confounding variables, the maternal food practices regression model revealed that birth weight was directly correlated with the consumption of milk (p < 0.001), fruits (p < 0.01), and green vegetables (p < 0.05). As per the physical activity and maternal well-being regression model, the birth weight and crown–heel length were strongly related with the physical activity and maternal well-being of mothers at 36 weeks of gestation (p < 0.05). Combining the MOM intervention with standard antenatal care is a safe and effective way to improve maternal welfare while upholding pregnant mothers’ human rights.
Highlights
Pregnancy is a precious event that can influence maternal health and the health of future generations
A comparative study was done to assess the effect of the Maternal Observation and Motivation (MOM) program with m-Health support on maternal and newborn health
The crown–heel length was 47.6 ± 3.0 vs. 46.8 ± 3.5 cm among the study and control groups. This could have been because the present study provided individual attention to the antenatal mothers and included regular monitoring and motivation to improve the mothers’ physical and mental well-being of the mothers
Summary
Pregnancy is a precious event that can influence maternal health and the health of future generations. Maternal body composition, metabolism, and placental nutrient supply are key factors that can influence fetal development and have been associated with a poor pregnancy outcomes and fetal genetic potential expression [2]. Fetal, and newborn health, counseling women to promote awareness of the importance of maternal health prior to conception and in pregnancy and advocating a culturally accepted lifestyle modification in favor of a healthy weight is critical. The research does not support routine multiple micronutrient supplementations alone [5]; rather, it emphasizes the significance of an individualized approach to identify nutritional deficiencies in individuals, leading to healthy, culturally accepted lifestyle practices prior to conception and in pregnancy and to better maternal and newborn outcomes [6]
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