The Maternal Referral Mobile Application System for Minimizing the Risk of Childbirth

Abstract

Background: The maternal mortality rate in Surabaya is still quite high due to ineffectice referral health systems. Primary Health Care (PHC) has difficulty referring patients to hospitals which have available resources. The purpose of this study is to develop a mobile app system framework for the maternal referral system.Design and Methods: This study was developed based on the results of the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with midwives, doctors and primary health care heads about the referral system regulation in Surabaya City.Results: A mobile app system can be used to communicate patients’ conditions to the hospital. The hospital then will refer back to the PHC as a home care service after the birth. This mobile app has gone through a trial and a development process; it is currently in the process of structuring the mobile app based on the bugs that occur in the system.Conclusions: This mobile app still needs development, especially in minimizing system bugs, and providing faster, more accurate communication.Significance for public healthThe causes of maternal deaths in Indonesia included being late in making a decision, arriving late at health facilities and receiving medical helps late. The issue of referral communication between the Primary Health Care and the Hospital has become very important and needs to be resolved. We have been developing a mobile app system to find quickly the nearest available hospitals who have the resources to accept the condition of pregnant women. We argue that this mobile apps can reduce the risk of death in the delivery process.