Bridging the Gap: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mhealth Interventions in Improving Antenatal Care Uptake and Reducing Maternal Mortality in Rural Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in improving antenatal care (ANC) uptake and reducing maternal mortality in rural Northern Nigeria. Drawing from 50 studies involving over 85,000 participants, the findings reveal that mHealth interventions—particularly SMS-based solutions—significantly enhance attendance at ANC (OR 1.85), skilled birth attendance (OR 1.67), and utilisation of postnatal care (OR 1.94). Researchers found that educational text messages improved ANC uptake by up to 67%, with SMS interventions proving to be the most cost-effective. Despite these promising outcomes, barriers such as digital illiteracy, poor network infrastructure, and socio-cultural resistance remain. The study supports the integration of tailored mHealth strategies into maternal health policies for rural Nigerian contexts.