Effect of a digitally-enabled, stage-based intervention on maternal and child health: a community-based, cluster-randomized controlled trial from rural China

Abstract

Comprehensive and responsive interventions are increasingly advocated to address the diverse and evolving health challenges faced by mothers and children during the first 1,000 days of life. However, evidence remains limited on how such interventions can be operationalized in low-resource settings without overstretching frontline health workers. We developed the Healthy Future program, a digitally-enabled community health worker (CHW) intervention that integrates a comprehensive and stage-based maternal and child health curriculum with digital infrastructure to deliver developmentally appropriate support through home visits. We evaluated the effects of the program on multidimensional outcomes, including caregiving practice, child health and nutrition, and caregiver well-being in rural China.

Publication
medRxiv (Preprint)