International Journal of Management, IT & Engineering
Vol. 8, Issue 9(1), September- 2018,
ISSN: 2249-0558 Impact Factor: 7.119
Journal Homepage: http://www.ijmra.us, Email: editorijmie@gmail.com Double-Blind
Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's
Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gate as well as in Cabell’s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A
45
International journal of Management, IT and Engineering
http://www.ijmra.us, Email: editorijmie@gmail.com
Accomplish 2030 Health Agenda through Mobile Services: Indian Scenario
Vani Aggarwal
1
Dr. Meenal Sharma Jagtap
2
Introduction: Despite a significant progress on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 4&5), mortality
of under-five years children is still high and women die during their pregnancy. The unfinished targets are
included in the Sustainable Development Health Goal (SDG3) to reduce child and maternal mortality
globally. This study is focused on the impact of new technologies specifically mobile applications on the
healthcare services. This paper provides an econometric evidence that child & maternal mortality relates
to mobile subscribers, internet users, total health expenditure, public health expenditure, improved
sanitation facilities, female education and gross domestic per capita product.
Methodology: Before running a regression equation in the STATA, we have checked the stationarity of
the series by applying Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test to avoid biases in the model. Data is
extracted from the World Bank dataset on the various health indicators that determine the relationship
between mHealth and mortality and also on mobile phone users and internet users that represents mHealth
services, covering the period from 1995 to 2015. STATA software is used to run the regression analysis.
On the basis of several empirical evidences and literature review, factors affecting the mortality rates
were identified and the linear regression model is developed to analyze the effectiveness of mHealth
interventions in MCH sector of the Indian economy.
Results: The results imply that mobile phone has a favorable impact on maternal mortality; this outcome
can benefit the policymakers in policies formulation aiming to reduce child and maternal mortality in a
developing country like India. The pilot studies such as Kilkari, mSakhi, Mobile Academy in India proves
the significance of the usage of mobile phone with respect to child/maternal mortality reduction.
Conclusion: There is a need to tap the potential market of mHealth services for healthcare deliveries in
India to make affordable access of medical services and health information on safe pregnancy, child
nutrition & safety. Government should take bold initiatives to implement these services at reasonable
rates and improve infrastructure facilities to facilitate mobile services in each and every corner of India.
Keywords: mHealth, Child Mortality, Maternal Mortality, Regression, Indian Economy
1
Research Scholar, Amity School of Economics, Amity University Gurugram,
2
Associate Professor & Programme Co-ordinator, Amity School of Economics, Amity University Gurugram,