Implementation of a mHealth Program Within a Homeless Population of Young Mothers
type: CreativeWork
description: Purpose: Despite major medical advancements and education, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 infants die before their first birthday annually (www.marchofdimes.com/peristats). New Jersey’s infant mortality rate appears exemplary when compared to the United States overall infant mortality rate. Yet, New Jersey’s infant mortality rate, preterm birth rate and low birth rate by mother’s race reveal a far greater risk for infants born to a mother who is African American (www.nj.gov/health/epht/outcome.shtml). The need for innovative approaches to improving New Jersey’s maternal-infant health is paramount. Mobile phones may provide an appropriate means of addressing maternal-infant health challenges for women from underserved communities. The overall aim of this implementation project is to enroll young homeless pregnant and parenting mothers, accessing services within two urban settings of Covenant House-New Jersey, in the Text4baby mHealth program. Methods: After consultation, young homeless 18-21 year old pregnant and new mothers who presented for residential or day services at Covenant House, if agreeable, were given the Text4baby program “How to Enroll” tear-off sheet, that is in use nationwide. Mothers were offered assistance with enrolling via cell phone as well as being offered the option of enrolling online. Staff education and weekly follow-up clinical site visits with staff and homeless resident mothers occurred at each clinical site. Weekly follow-up discussions focused on: reception of Text4baby messages, enrollment concerns or difficulty, if texts were read, if texts were perceived as interesting and helpful to the enrolled mother, and if texts resulted in a change of healthcare behaviors of enrolled mothers. Findings: Homeless, pregnant 18 to 21 year old mothers residing in Covenant House transitional housing, that were offered assistance with enrolling via cell phone, enrolled in the free nationwide maternal-infant mHeal…
abstract: Purpose: Despite major medical advancements and education, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 infants die before their first birthday annually (www.marchofdimes.com/peristats). New Jersey’s infant mortality rate appears exemplary when compared to the United States overall infant mortality rate. Yet, New Jersey’s infant mortality rate, preterm birth rate and low birth rate by mother’s race reveal a far greater risk for infants born to a mother who is African American (www.nj.gov/health/epht/outcome.shtml). The need for innovative approaches to improving New Jersey’s maternal-infant health is paramount. Mobile phones may provide an appropriate means of addressing maternal-infant health challenges for women from underserved communities. The overall aim of this implementation project is to enroll young homeless pregnant and parenting mothers, accessing services within two urban settings of Covenant House-New Jersey, in the Text4baby mHealth program. Methods: After consultation, young homeless 18-21 year old pregnant and new mothers who presented for residential or day services at Covenant House, if agreeable, were given the Text4baby program “How to Enroll” tear-off sheet, that is in use nationwide. Mothers were offered assistance with enrolling via cell phone as well as being offered the option of enrolling online. Staff education and weekly follow-up clinical site visits with staff and homeless resident mothers occurred at each clinical site. Weekly follow-up discussions focused on: reception of Text4baby messages, enrollment concerns or difficulty, if texts were read, if texts were perceived as interesting and helpful to the enrolled mother, and if texts resulted in a change of healthcare behaviors of enrolled mothers. Findings: Homeless, pregnant 18 to 21 year old mothers residing in Covenant House transitional housing, that were offered assistance with enrolling via cell phone, enrolled in the free nationwide maternal-infant mHeal…
author: Byrnes, Maureen
keywords: mHealth, Covenant House, enrollment, Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences, Nursing
date published: 2014-04-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:32:52Z
provider: Seton Hall University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Seton Hall University