Submission ID 117057
| Issue/Objective | Lebanon hosts a high number of refugees due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). With women of childbearing age constituting the majority of the refugee population, increased maternal mortality rates and pregnancy-related complications are still documented. Improving maternal health requires a collaborative approach that includes pregnant women, their spouses, and healthcare providers (HCPs), with digital health interventions offering promising solutions to enhance care, support, and engagement. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an AI-based, gamified mHealth intervention, Gamification and AI and mHealth Network for Maternal Health Improvement (GAIN MHI), on ANC utilization and maternal and neonatal outcomes in Lebanon. |
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| Methodology/Approach | The study was conducted across 19 primary healthcare centers in Lebanon from April 2020 to September 2023, with 2,880 participants, including pregnant women in their first trimester, their spouses, and healthcare providers. The intervention involved weekly gestational-age-specific educational mobile messages in Arabic for women and spouses, appointment reminders, and a professional development app for HCPs featuring gamification and AI. Participants were divided into three groups: a control group (n=1,315) and two intervention groups-one including women and spouses only (n=668), and another including women, spouses, and HCPs (n=898). The study assessed healthcare access and maternal and neonatal health outcomes. |
| Results | The intervention group involving HCPs showed significantly better maternal health outcomes compared to the other groups, including increased completion of ANC visits (OR=1.569), lab tests (OR=1.821), ultrasound scans (OR=7.984), and improved supplement intake (OR=3.508). Additionally, maternal and neonatal outcomes were improved, with higher odds of term delivery (OR=1.295) and reduced risk of abortion (OR=1.580). Both intervention groups experienced increased neonatal morbidity and fewer normal deliveries. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The GAIN MHI intervention demonstrated the effectiveness of a collaborative approach involving women, spouses, and healthcare providers in improving ANC attendance and maternal health outcomes. These findings suggest that health systems should consider adopting integrated, AI-powered, gamified mHealth interventions to enhance pregnancy outcomes. This approach can be scaled and replicated in other contexts to address maternal health challenges among vulnerable populations. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Shadi Saleh Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut Nour El Arnaout Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut Mohamad Alameddine College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah Nadine Sabra Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut |
