Support network for future mothers

Colombia has several problems related to maternity health and attention to future mothers. The first issue is that most of the women don't have access to health services. The second one is that women with low resources have very limited information regarding pregnancy and baby care. Finally, most of these women don't have a support network to rely on. ABC Prodein, has been supporting women from all social classes to get along with their pregnancies, giving them integral attention. Taking that experience, we will develop an APP that allows us to give key information to all women that need it, as well as to create a women support network to share and take care of each other. This app will contribute to improving future mother's mental, emotional, and physical health, at the same time contribute to reducing obstetrical violence and will aim for equality for women all around the world. 

We are aiming to solve the problem of lack of adequate integral attention for future mothers in rural and urban areas in Colombia. Most of these women don't know the options they have when they get pregnant, which lead them to take rushed decisions that can cost them their lives. At the same time, the poor health care system in Colombia and the lack of coverage, lead women to have their pregnancies without adequate physical, emotional, and mental attention, which have high costs for themselves. Finally, there are clear patriarcal structures in Colombia, that have make medical attention very violent with women. 

Colombia has around 400.000 ilegal abortions yearly, 35% of those derive in health complications. Most of them don't have adequate information about other options, they don't have access to health-care, or a support network to take an informed decision. 

Maternal mortality in Colombia is mostly related to: lack of recognition of alarm signs and symptoms, lack of knowledge about pregnancy or the options of health care, and lack of autonomy to make a decision (women depends on parents or male partner).

We will create an APP open to all women that seek support from ABC Prodein during their pregnancies, to provide them with information and accompaniment during these times of their lives. The APP will have three main sections: First, a resource section with key information for different moments and situations, all provided by experts and published in easy-to-understand terms. Second, a catalogue with places, numbers, and web-sites to appeal in situations related with abuse, violence, mental, emotional or physical sickness. Third, a social network type section in which women of all classes and all places can interact and share to create a sorority community of support. 

We are looking to improve the lives of pregnant women of all classes, struggling with how to deal with their own pregnancies and seeking support to be in mental, emotional, and physical balance. These women are lacking a support network and usually, they don't have access to adequate health-care. ABC Prodein has been working with this target for years, focusing on understanding, with empathy, their needs, what worries them the most, and what they need help with. For that reason, and based on the information we have been gathering, we are willing to create this app, recognizing the relevance of adequate information, health attention, and peer support. 

There are no apps focusing on providing adequate caring for pregnant women in Colombia. At the same time, in Colombia there are few means to get women from all social classes to interact and support each other. In fact, social segregation is one of the main problems in our country. For that reason, creating a platform for women of different social classes to interact will actively contribute to bridge one of the main social gaps in Colombian society. 

We will have a new application of an existing technology. Apps have been for different goals, in this case we want to use a hybrid app to achieve our own aims. Apps

Apps are used world-wide for different goals, including medical, social, financial, and economic aims. With the rapid spreading of smartphones and other technologies, apps have become a part of humans daily lives. 

The repeated use of the Apps will lead this group of women to improve their mental, emotional, and physical health, taking wise decisions on an informed-basis avoiding situations that might be hurtful for them, and it will contribute for them to empower and challenge the patriarcal health system.

20 full time workers

3 contractors

ABC Prodein has been working 20 years supporting pregnant women in Colombia, providing emotional and physical care, information, and company during their pregnancies. During this time our staff has grown different hard and soft skills to relate to these women and to understand their needs. At the same time, this time has allowed us to partner with multiple medical and social organizations to support the process we have with these women. 

Our main barrier at this point, is the execution of our project which demands an important investment, specifically to create and launch the APP. With the support of Solve, we will be able to complete this part of the project. 

We will need support to have a better understanding of the technological conditions we should use and have into account, as well as how it can be financially sustainable. 

In colombia there is a huge issue related with internal displacement because of internal armed conflict. Our services include the attention to population that has been displaced and are no longer near their loved-ones and have lost everything, and to accompany these women to have healthy and adequate pregnancies.