A mobile based application to provide baby care information to mothers
Date
2014
Authors
Mberi, Tabitha Wanjiru
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
After nine months of carrying a baby and the challenges that come with pregnancy, a
mother's joy becomes true when she gives birth to a healthy baby. Though delivery of a baby
is a difficult moment, a mother should ensure that her new born survives. This can only be
assured by knowing how to take care of her baby for example, ensure the umbilical cord is
well cleaned so as not to be infected among other safety measures. Although doctors assure
mothers and give them advice on how to take care of their child, most have questions that
they prefer asking their friends who are mothers or buying locally available Baby magazines,
books and Newspapers but with the high cost of living this has become very expensive to
most mothers.
A mobile application, Baby World was developed to provide information to mothers.
The application gives information such as how to recognize symptoms on a baby, a list of
hospitals she can visit when her child becomes sick, shops to buy baby supplies and
recommended nannies and day care centres. It also allows users to share challenges they face
when taking care of their babies and other users can answer and give solutions to such
problems. Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used with the researcher
using questionnaires and focus group discussions to collect the data after testing the
application with 103 respondents who were mothers.
The research findings show that after using the application, 85% of the 103
respondents were very satisfied in using the application as it was very easy to use. It also
offered them a convenient, cheap way of accessing the information especially what they
urgently needed. 80% of the users said they would highly recommend the application to
others mothers sot that they would easily access baby care information. The users also made a
few recommendations to the features they would like added to make the user experience even
much better. The application has a high potential of growth as the modern mother wants such
vital information at their fingertips.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation (MSc. MTI)
Keywords
Mobile application, Mobile app, Baby care, ICT, Mobile