Help SMS Maama Mothers!
Donation protected
Approximately 1 in 47 women in Uganda will die from pregnancy related complications throughout their lifetime.
[With your generous donations, we have already raised over $2,000! Our YouCaring site has been transitioned to a GoFundMe page; please help us reach our $3,000 goal!]
SMS Maama is a student run, multinational, award-winning social business venture aimed at increasing access to maternal health information, empowering women to recognize common pregnancy-related complications before they become more serious.
SMS Maama sends three types of easy-to-read automated text messages to women looking for more information about their pregnancies. These messages include general pregnancy information, interactive Yes/No screening questions that seek to provide information about symptoms that are indicative of pregnancy complications, and appointment reminder questions that remind women of antenatal appointments and encourage women to bring their partners to clinic visits. As part of her enrollment in SMS Maama, a woman receives a free Maama Kit (safe birthing kit) and has the potential to earn small baby care items as the result of accruing points by answering the interactive screening questions throughout the duration of her enrollment.
SMS Maama is currently working with Benedict Medical Centre in Luzira, Kampala, Uganda to conduct focus groups and a pilot that tests the feasibility and user experience of an SMS delivery system. As of March 1, 2018, SMS Maama had enrolled 111 women into the prenatal SMS delivery pilot. We are currently conducting focus groups in Summer of 2018.
SMS Maama is asking for additional funds to assist with the following:
1 . Continued provision of a free Maama Kit to all enrolled women.
Hospitals in Uganda require all mothers to purchase a Maama Kit for use during delivery. These kits include basic, essential birthing supplies such as gloves, clean razors, cord ties, cotton, sterile plastic sheets, and soap. Maama kits are often not provided and mothers can be turned away should they not have one themselves.
2. Continued provision of small baby care items.
These items may include bibs, socks, hats, onesies, cups, and bottles, etc. These items or "tokens of appreciation" are given to mothers that respond to the Yes/No interactive questions and encourage active participation.
3. The ability to conduct up to 12 focus groups. Focus groups will provide essential information related to understanding cultural relevance of messages, frequency, content, desirability of messages, and exploration of a sustainable subscription model. Conducting these focus groups will help inform the future of SMS Maama.
4. Continued support of Ugandan team members.
SMS Maama supports a group of 10 midwives at Benedict Medical Centre and one Local Research Coordinator. These partners are essential to carrying out the responsibilities that allow SMS Maama to function on a day-to-day basis.
You can learn more about SMS Maama at http://www.smsmaama.org/ or on Facebook.
Thank you for your support of SMS Maama mothers!
[With your generous donations, we have already raised over $2,000! Our YouCaring site has been transitioned to a GoFundMe page; please help us reach our $3,000 goal!]
SMS Maama is a student run, multinational, award-winning social business venture aimed at increasing access to maternal health information, empowering women to recognize common pregnancy-related complications before they become more serious.
SMS Maama sends three types of easy-to-read automated text messages to women looking for more information about their pregnancies. These messages include general pregnancy information, interactive Yes/No screening questions that seek to provide information about symptoms that are indicative of pregnancy complications, and appointment reminder questions that remind women of antenatal appointments and encourage women to bring their partners to clinic visits. As part of her enrollment in SMS Maama, a woman receives a free Maama Kit (safe birthing kit) and has the potential to earn small baby care items as the result of accruing points by answering the interactive screening questions throughout the duration of her enrollment.
SMS Maama is currently working with Benedict Medical Centre in Luzira, Kampala, Uganda to conduct focus groups and a pilot that tests the feasibility and user experience of an SMS delivery system. As of March 1, 2018, SMS Maama had enrolled 111 women into the prenatal SMS delivery pilot. We are currently conducting focus groups in Summer of 2018.
SMS Maama is asking for additional funds to assist with the following:
1 . Continued provision of a free Maama Kit to all enrolled women.
Hospitals in Uganda require all mothers to purchase a Maama Kit for use during delivery. These kits include basic, essential birthing supplies such as gloves, clean razors, cord ties, cotton, sterile plastic sheets, and soap. Maama kits are often not provided and mothers can be turned away should they not have one themselves.
2. Continued provision of small baby care items.
These items may include bibs, socks, hats, onesies, cups, and bottles, etc. These items or "tokens of appreciation" are given to mothers that respond to the Yes/No interactive questions and encourage active participation.
3. The ability to conduct up to 12 focus groups. Focus groups will provide essential information related to understanding cultural relevance of messages, frequency, content, desirability of messages, and exploration of a sustainable subscription model. Conducting these focus groups will help inform the future of SMS Maama.
4. Continued support of Ugandan team members.
SMS Maama supports a group of 10 midwives at Benedict Medical Centre and one Local Research Coordinator. These partners are essential to carrying out the responsibilities that allow SMS Maama to function on a day-to-day basis.
You can learn more about SMS Maama at http://www.smsmaama.org/ or on Facebook.
Thank you for your support of SMS Maama mothers!
Organizer
SMS Maama
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
