Kisha German

Kisha German (she/her) worked with Partners in Health International with their team in Malawi. Her research focused on understanding how current electronic health tools impacted services and feeling of connection for recipients – particularly for pregnant women.  

Report

The Impact of Mobile Health (m-Health) on Social Connectedness Between Community Health Workers and Pregnant Women in Malawi 

Mobile Health (m-Health) involves using mobile phones and wireless technology in healthcare. It has been considered a groundbreaking avenue for global healthcare transformation.  Social connectedness in health is important because it has been shown to be linked to longer life, and enhanced health and plays a crucial role in preventing serious illnesses. Since 2019, Partners In Health (PIH) Community Health Worker (CHWs) have used a mobile health tool called “Yendanafe” to facilitate community-based health services. This study explored the perceptions of pregnant women regarding Yendanafe’s impact on social connectedness. Through in-depth interviews with twelve pregnant women, this qualitative study revealed that Yendanafe enhanced social connectedness between CHWs and pregnant women. The tool allowed CHWs to have comprehensive knowledge about women’s pregnancies, fostering a sense of care and value among the women. 

Community Engagement Initiative

Kisha traveled to Neno, Malawi to visit the PIH team and conduct interviews with 12 pregnant women attending ANC and using the mobile health tool. She wanted to understand how mobile health tools can help better connect us, read more of her finding here: M-Health Impact on Social Connectedness.   

Read Kisha’s blog: Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: A Journey to Self-Belief 

Bio

Kisha German (she/her) is a graduate in Mathematical Sciences, (Major in Statistics and Computing) from the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS). Kisha’s professional endeavours are fuelled by her passion for science and civic leadership. She actively engages in various initiatives to advance STEM education and uplift young women in Malawi, leveraging her advocacy skills, mentorship capabilities, and involvement in community health programs through local youth-led NGOs such as UKANI Malawi. Kisha aspires to pursue a Master’s degree in epidemiology, specializing in infectious or chronic disease epidemiology 

Keywords

Mobile Health(m-Health), Social Connectedness, Community Health Workers (CHWs), Antenatal care, Malawi, Maternal and Neonatal Health, Health Education and Empowerment