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Information and Communication Technologies, Prenatal Care Services and Neonatal Health

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Listed:
  • Beuermann, Diether
  • Anta, Rafael
  • García, Patricia J.
  • Maffioli, Alessandro
  • Perez Lu, Jose
  • Rodrigo, Maria Fernanda

Abstract

We evaluate the effectiveness of sending text messages to pregnant women containing appointment reminders and suggestions for healthy behaviors during pregnancy. Receiving messages had an overall positive effect of 5 percent on the number of prenatal care visits attended. Moreover, for women who live close to their assigned health center and who have higher educational attainment, the intervention positively affected vitamin intake compliance, APGAR scores, and birth weight. Evidence suggests that reminders are more effective among those who are more able to understand the future benefits of preventive care (more educated) and who face lower transaction costs of going to prenatal care checkups (located near health centers). No evidence of geographical spillover effects was found.

Suggested Citation

  • Beuermann, Diether & Anta, Rafael & García, Patricia J. & Maffioli, Alessandro & Perez Lu, Jose & Rodrigo, Maria Fernanda, 2015. "Information and Communication Technologies, Prenatal Care Services and Neonatal Health," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 6940, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:6940
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    experimental design; electronic medical records; Pregnancy; e-Health; WAWARED; Peru; health center; prenatal controls;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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