LEARNING BRIEF | Effect of Facility-Generated, Mobile-Based Visit Reminder Messages on Maternal Health Care Utilization at Selected Public Health Facilities in Bangladesh

This brief summarizes a study that the USAID MaMoni Maternal and Newborn Care Strengthening Project (MaMoni MNCSP) in Bangladesh conducted to assess the effect of a short message service (SMS) mobile phone appointment reminder intervention for pregnant women on their use of maternal care services in selected public health facilities in Bangladesh. MaMoni MNCSP established this customized mHealth notification system in the national electronic management information system (e-MIS) platform, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP). The system delivers one-way SMS text reminders for upcoming antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) visits to pregnant women who registered with their mobile number in the e-MIS during their most recent pregnancy.