A six-session group-based pilot intervention for alcohol and other drug use in hospitalised mentally ill young offenders.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate a group-based intervention for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use offered to incarcerated youth hospitalised with mental illness.

Methods: A six-session group-based intervention for AOD use was offered to young offenders with mental illness, hospitalised in the Adolescent Unit of the Forensic Hospital, Sydney, between June 2015 and May 2017. Pre- and post-intervention measures were collected using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Treatment Entry Questionnaire, Drug-Related Locus of Control (DRLOC) and Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire, short version.

Unpacking the performance of a mobile health information messaging program for mothers (MomConnect) in South Africa: .

Despite calls to address broader evidence gaps in linking digital technologies to outcome and impact level health indicators, limited attention has been paid to measuring processes pertaining to the performance of programs. In this paper, we assess the program reach and message exposure of a mobile health information messaging program for mothers (MomConnect) in South Africa. In this descriptive study, we draw from system generated data to measure exposure to the program through registration attempts and conversions, message delivery, opt-outs and drop-outs.

Designing for scale: optimising the health information system architecture for mobile maternal health messaging in South Africa (MomConnect).

MomConnect is a national initiative coordinated by the South African National Department of Health that sends text-based mobile phone messages free of charge to pregnant women who voluntarily register at any public healthcare facility in South Africa. We describe the system design and architecture of the MomConnect technical platform, planned as a nationally scalable and extensible initiative. It uses a health information exchange that can connect any standards-compliant electronic front-end application to any standards-compliant electronic back-end database.

Mobile health messaging service and helpdesk for South African mothers (MomConnect): history, successes and challenges.

MomConnect is a flagship programme of the South African National Department of Health that has reached over 1.5 million pregnant women. Using mobile technology, MomConnect provides pregnant and postpartum women with twice-weekly health information text messages as well as access to a helpdesk for patient queries and feedback.

Providing a USSD location based clinic finder in South Africa: did it work?

A new mHealth service, Clinic Finder, was designed to provide a location-based service for any cellphone user in South Africa dialing a dedicated USSD string to find the nearest public primary health care facility. The service was funded by a European Union grant to Cell-Life to support the National Department of Health. Clinic Finder's aims were to provide a reliable and accurate service, and to assess both the most effective means of advertising the service as well as interest in the service.

Effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on the behaviour of children at early school age: long-term follow-up of a randomised controlled trial.

Although routine Fe supplementation in pregnancy is a common practice, its clinical benefits or risks are uncertain. Children born to mothers in the Fe group in a trial of Fe supplementation in pregnancy have been found to have a significantly higher risk of abnormal behaviour at 4 years of age than those born to mothers in the placebo group. The objective of the present study therefore was to determine whether Fe supplementation in pregnancy influences child behaviour at early school age.