1.1 Introduction
Prenatal care, also known as antenatal care, refers to the health services provided to expectant mothers throughout the course of pregnancy, with the aim of ensuring the well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). Effective prenatal care involves regular medical checkups, nutritional advice, health education, screening tests, and timely interventions to manage potential complications. According to Adedayo et al. (2021), the application of ICT in prenatal care can significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality by facilitating early detection of complications and ensuring adherence to antenatal schedules. It also empowers pregnant women with timely access to vital health information, thereby encouraging proactive health-seeking behaviors (Adedayo et al., 2021). In resource-limited settings, a computer-based prenatal care system offers a scalable and cost-effective solution to address the gaps in traditional healthcare delivery.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The integration of computer-based systems into healthcare delivery has evolved significantly over the past few decades, driven by the growing need for accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility in medical services. The history of computerized healthcare systems dates back to the mid-20th century, when electronic health record (EHR) systems were first introduced in developed countries to streamline patient information management and reduce human error (Boonstra & Broekhuis, 2010). Prenatal care systems began to adopt digital technologies in the late 1990s, particularly in high-income countries, where hospital networks sought to improve maternal care outcomes through electronic documentation and decision-support tools. With the expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), mobile and web-based platforms emerged to support maternal health programs in low- and middle-income countries, addressing challenges such as limited access to quality healthcare and poor data management (Tomlinson et al., 2009).
In recent years, there has been a significant shift towards the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in healthcare delivery, particularly in the field of maternal health. A computer-based system for prenatal care assistance refers to a digital platform or software application designed to facilitate the monitoring, documentation, and management of pregnancy-related health data. This system supports healthcare providers in making informed decisions and enables expectant mothers to receive timely information and alerts regarding their prenatal care schedules (Ramesh & Vijay, 2019).
Traditional prenatal care systems in many healthcare facilities are predominantly paper-based, leading to inefficiencies such as lost records, delayed diagnoses, and missed appointments. As technology continues to evolve, the integration of computer-based systems in the healthcare sector has presented new opportunities for improving service delivery and ensuring better health outcomes. Kumar & Bhuvaneswari (2020) stated that a computer-based system for prenatal care assistance is designed to automate and streamline the process of managing prenatal services. It provides functionalities such as electronic medical records, appointment scheduling, alert systems for follow-up visits, educational resources, and real-time communication between healthcare providers and patients (Kumar & Bhuvaneswari, 2020). Such systems enhance data accuracy, improve decision-making, and enable continuous monitoring of pregnant women, especially those in high-risk categories.
The design and implementation of such a system aim to bridge the gap in healthcare delivery by automating routine processes such as appointment scheduling, patient record management, reminders for checkups, and health education dissemination. The use of computer-based prenatal care systems has been shown to improve service efficiency, enhance patient engagement, and ensure continuity of care (Aliyu et al., 2020).
The challenges encountered that led to the execution of the research work is that, appointment scheduling and follow-up systems are also often poorly managed, resulting in missed checkups and delayed interventions that could have prevented complications. Expectant mothers are sometimes unaware of the critical milestones in their pregnancy journeys due to the absence of automated reminders or access to consistent health education (Okonofua et al., 2019). It is against the background that the developments of this software will enables healthcare providers to quickly access and update patient information, improving the continuity of care and facilitating timely interventions. Automated appointment scheduling and reminder notifications help reduce missed visits, increasing adherence to prenatal care schedules and ultimately enhancing maternal and fetal health outcomes (Smith et al., 2020).
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals the challenges inhibiting the smooth operation of the existing system, which includes:
- The current systems suffer from limited integration, often focusing on isolated functions such as appointment scheduling or record-keeping without providing a comprehensive solution that covers all aspects of prenatal care.
- The user interfaces are often not user-friendly, limiting accessibility for healthcare workers and patients who may have minimal technical expertise.
- Additionally, some of the systems require constant internet access, making them unreliable in rural or underserved areas.
- Lastly, there is high implementation and maintenance costs pose a barrier, especially for underfunded healthcare facilities, restricting widespread adoption.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study is to design and implement a computer-based system that will assist healthcare providers in managing prenatal care services efficiently and effectively. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To develop a user-friendly computer-based system for storing and managing prenatal patient records securely.
- To implement an automated appointment scheduling feature that enables timely follow-up and antenatal visits.
- To provide access to essential health education materials for pregnant women through the system interface.
- To evaluate the system’s performance in improving efficiency and service delivery in prenatal care settings.
- To incorporate a notification system that reminds patients and healthcare providers of important prenatal milestones and appointments.
1.5 Significance of Study
The implementation of the proposed computerized prenatal care assistance system will be relevant to the end-users in the following ways:
- The system will enable healthcare providers to quickly access and update patient information, improving the continuity of care and facilitating timely interventions.
- Provision of an automated appointment scheduling and reminder notifications that will help reduce missed visits, increasing adherence to prenatal care schedules and ultimately enhancing maternal and fetal health outcomes (Smith et al., 2020).
- Healthcare providers will benefit from the system as it will simplify patient data management, reduce administrative workload, and improve the accuracy of clinical records for prenatal care.
- Pregnant women will have improved access to timely care and health education, as the system will offer reminders for appointments and provide essential information to guide healthy pregnancy practices.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the design and implementation of a computer-based system for prenatal care assistance at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Lagos State, Nigeria. The system will include functionalities such as patient registration, electronic medical record management, appointment scheduling, automated reminders, and access to prenatal health education.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
The study was limited to prenatal care services and did not extend to postnatal or other general healthcare services, which narrowed its overall impact within the healthcare system. The implementation was restricted to a single healthcare facility, which was Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), making it difficult to generalize the findings to other hospitals or regions without further customization.
The system’s effectiveness was affected by challenges such as inadequate ICT infrastructure and intermittent power supply, which were common issues in the study environment. Additionally, varying levels of computer literacy among healthcare workers and patients was a barrier that slowed the adoption and optimal use of the system. The research study period was also short, which limited the ability to assess the long-term benefits and sustainability of the computer-based prenatal care system.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Prenatal Care: Prenatal care refers to the regular medical and health services provided to pregnant women throughout their pregnancy to ensure the health and well-being of both mother and baby. It includes routine checkups, screenings, and education aimed at preventing complications and promoting a healthy pregnancy (World Health Organization, 2016).
Computer-Based System: This is a software application designed to automate, manage, and streamline tasks through the use of computer technology. in the context of prenatal care, it refers to a digital platform that assists healthcare providers in maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, and providing health education efficiently (Laudon & Laudon, 2020).
Appointment Scheduling: Appointment scheduling is the process of organizing and managing patient visits to healthcare providers in a timely and efficient manner. A computerized scheduling system helps reduce missed appointments and ensures continuity of care for pregnant women (Sinsky et al., 2013).
Automated Notification: Automated notification involves the use of technology to send reminders or alerts to patients and healthcare workers about upcoming appointments or important health information. This feature helps improve adherence to prenatal care schedules (Free et al., 2013).
Health Education: Health education in prenatal care is the process of providing pregnant women with relevant information about pregnancy, nutrition, danger signs, and newborn care to empower them to make informed decisions and maintain their health (Glanz, Rimer, & Viswanath, 2008).
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