The Safe Delivery App in Tanzania

On May 3rd 2018 a stakeholder event combined with the launch of the ‘My Learning’ platform took place at the Danish Embassy in Dar es Salaam.

The event was attended by professionals from various sectors; professional associations, NGOs, and donors in Tanzania. It was a fruitful meeting centred around the Safe Delivery App, results from the pilot study in Dodoma region, and discussion regarding the next steps and suitable implementation models in the Tanzania context.

The new My Learning platform on the Safe Delivery App will provide an on-going, individualized learning process for each user. On the learning platform, users will go through ten modules of learning with three levels per module.

“There is a huge need on making refresher training programmes more effective and we are working with partners on integrating the app into existing country training programmes”, explained Anna Frellsen, CEO of Maternity Foundation, at the event.

A pilot study was conducted in Mawapwa, Dodoma, in partnership with Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), between July 2017 and February 2018. Data was collected for 56 health workers at baseline and end-point including data regarding acceptability of the Safe Delivery App and their knowledge level pre and post of receiving the App. The study in Tanzania showed an upward trend in knowledge (7%), a high (94%) weekly use of the SDA as well as continuous improvements in confidence levels.

“Health workers are using the safe Delivery App as a job aid, they make reference to the App when they forget or are unsure of the procedure or the dosage and it helps them to provide appropriate care to mothers and newborn babies, and subsequently saving lives,” said Donat Shamba from the Ifakara Heath Institute

Based on the good results and demand for the app from the community, Maternity Foundation’s aim is to reach more health workers with the Safe Delivery App. Among the initiatives going forward in Tanzania are: making a Swahili version of the SDA available, continue to disseminate findings and engage with partners to facilitate the scale up of the app and ensure it is appropriate for the Tanzanian context

“We can see the Safe Delivery App works and it is free so let’s push this app forward now and reach more people“, concluded counsellor Fin Poulsen from Danish Embassy.