Effect of a social media-based health education program on postnatal care (PNC) knowledge among pregnant women using smartphones in Dhulikhel hospital: A randomized controlled trial

Kalpana Chaudhary, Jyoti Nepal, Kusum Shrestha, Manita Karmacharya, Dipesh Khadka, Abha Shrestha, Prabin Raj Shakya, Shristi Rawal, Archana Shrestha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction Postnatal care services helps in detecting and subsequently managing life threatening complications. With the ubiquitous use of the mobile phone in Nepal, social media based postpartum education has the potential to increase PNC knowledge among pregnant women. This study aimed to assess the effect of social media-based health education program on PNC knowledge among pregnant women attending Dhulikhel hospital, Nepal. Materials and methods We conducted a two-arm open-label randomized controlled trial among literate pregnant women visiting Dhulikhel hospital for ANC check-up from May to August, 2021. A computerbased program allocated 229 pregnant women owning smartphones with internet connectivity in a 1:1 ratio to either intervention (n = 109) or usual care (n = 120). We assessed PNC knowledge in the participants by interviewing in-person or via phone. The intervention group received a 16 minutes video on PNC and the participants were reminded to view the video every week via telephone for a month. Control group received usual care. The primary outcome of the study was change in PNC knowledge score. We utilized intent-to-treat analysis and measured the effect of the intervention on PNC knowledge score using simple linear regression analysis. Results and discussion The mean PNC knowledge score increased by additional 8.07 points among pregnant women in the intervention group compared to the control group (95% CI: 2.35: 13.80; pvalue = 0.006). The maternal care attribute knowledge increased by 4.31 points (95% CI: 1.51-7.10, p-value = 0.03) and newborn care attribute knowledge increased by 3.39 points (95% CI: 0.41-6.37, p-value = 0.02) among pregnant women in the intervention compared to the control group. Conclusion A social media-based health education is effective in improving PNC knowledge score among pregnant women. Further research is needed to evaluate if this increased knowledge is translated into the increased utilization of PNC care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0280622
JournalPloS one
Volume18
Issue number1 January
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of a social media-based health education program on postnatal care (PNC) knowledge among pregnant women using smartphones in Dhulikhel hospital: A randomized controlled trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this