i

Prof. (Mrs.) Veronica Millicent Dzomeku

College: Health Sciences | Department: School of Nursing and Midwifery

Title of Research: A WhatsApp Triage, Referral, and Transfer (WAT-RT) System has been Designed for Community and Hospital-Based Obstetrics Emergencies

Research Summary:

A team of researchers at KNUST led by Prof Veronica Millicent Dzomeku designed and implemented a WhatsApp Triage, Referral, and Transfer (WAT-RT) System as an intervention for managing obstetric emergencies. The project was aimed at increasing timely care-seeking along the referral pathway for pregnant women through the implementation of the WAT-RT System between first-line community health workers, rural health facility midwives and district hospital staff. 

The timely intervention in obstetric (OB) emergencies has been a concern for many countries including Ghana. Inadequate equipment and personnel at some facilities to handle some of these emergencies have resulted in deaths in some instances. Referring patients to better-equipped facilities is sometimes the only option for low-resourced health facilities.

We developed a system that increases continuity and access to quality maternal care reducing preventable, obstetric-related deaths through information sharing and the ability to track referred clients; thus, addressing SDG 3. 

Sixteen rural health facilities in Bono West and Bono East in the Bono region of Ghana benefited from the project. Three hundred and six referrals were made using the system. Midwives and patients attested that the system was effective and had contributed to improving health outcomes. 

Other team members are: Prof. Emmanuel Nakua and Dr. Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah

Publications:

1. Dzomeku, V.M., Mensah, A.B.B., Nakua, E.K., Agbadi, P., Okyere, J., Kumah, A., Munukpa, J., Ofosu, A.A., Lockhart, N. and Lori, J.R., (2023). Perspectives of healthcare workers on the challenges with obstetric referrals in rural communities in Ghana: a descriptive phenomenology study. BMJ open, 13(4), p.e066910.
2. Dzomeku, V.M., Mensah, A.B.B., Nakua, E.K., Agbadi, P., Okyere, J., Kumah, A., Munukpa, J., Ofosu, A.A., Lockhart, N. and Lori, J.R., (2023). Feasibility of the use of WhatsApp messaging technology to facilitate obstetric referrals in rural Ghana. BMC Digital Health, 1(1), pp.1-11.