Improving maternal outcomes of young mothers through mobile health (mHealth) and community-based interventions: Evidence from a quasi-experimental trial in Kwale County, Coastal Kenya

Background Inefficient referral systems and limited awareness on the importance of antenatal care (ANC) hinder expectant adolescents and young women from achieving the recommended ANC visits. Mobile health interventions and community-based clinical outreaches have emerged as potential strategies to improve ANC utilization and skilled delivery rates.ObjectiveThis study evaluates the effectiveness of mHealth text messaging and community-based clinical outreaches in improving ANC uptake, skilled deliveries, and infants’ birthweights among expectant adolescents and young women in Kwale County, Coastal Kenya.MethodsA quasi-experimental study was conducted across four public health facilities, comparing three groups: mHealth text messaging intervention, community-based outreaches, and a control group receiving standard care. Multivariate regression models were used to adjust for baseline differences and potential confounders. Key outcomes included ANC attendance, skilled birth attendance, and infant birthweights.ResultsA total of 817 participants were included in the analysis. Participants in the mHealth (RR: 0.5 [95% CI: 0.4 – 0.7], p