Introduction on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an indispensable part of modern society, influencing every aspect of human life—from education and economy to health care. Among its most significant contributions is the role it plays in mother and child health care, a critical area in ensuring the overall well-being and future development of communities. In sociology, health is not just a biological condition but also a social construct, shaped by cultural practices, economic resources, gender relations, and access to technology. ICT bridges many of these gaps by creating new possibilities for maternal and child health in both developed and developing societies.
This article explores how ICT and mother and child health care from a sociological perspective, highlighting the interplay between technology, social structures, and cultural practices.
Table of Contents
Sociological Significance of ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
Mother and child health care has always been central to public health policies because maternal well-being directly influences child survival and development. In many societies, maternal mortality, malnutrition, and infant mortality are not merely medical issues but deeply connected with poverty, education, patriarchy, social inequality, and cultural practices. For example:
- In patriarchal settings, women often lack decision-making power regarding reproductive health.
- In rural areas, myths, taboos, and lack of awareness restrict pregnant women from accessing medical facilities.
- Social class and caste disparities create unequal access to maternal health resources.
Thus, improving maternal and child health requires not just medical intervention but also socio-cultural transformation, and ICT has emerged as a powerful agent of change in this domain.
ICT as a Social Tool for Health Care
ICT in health care goes beyond telemedicine or mobile applications; it represents a social process of communication and empowerment. In the sociological context, ICT helps:
- Breaking Geographic Barriers – Mobile networks and internet access connect remote communities to health experts.
- Creating Health Awareness – Digital platforms disseminate knowledge about pregnancy, nutrition, breastfeeding, and immunization.
- Facilitating Social Change – ICT challenges traditional myths by providing scientific health information.
- Strengthening Social Networks – Women’s groups, NGOs, and community health workers use ICT to build solidarity and mutual support.
By integrating ICT into maternal and child health care, societies can address inequalities and empower marginalized groups.
Key Areas of ICT Application in Mother & Child Health
1. Digital Health Information Systems
Electronic health records and mobile apps track pregnancies, antenatal check-ups, and immunization schedules. In India, the Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) monitors pregnant women and children up to the age of five, ensuring timely health services. Sociologically, such systems reduce exclusion, making health care more inclusive and accountable.
2. Telemedicine and Remote Consultation
For women in rural or marginalized communities, visiting a hospital may involve social restrictions or long travel. ICT-based telemedicine allows consultation with doctors through mobile devices, reducing barriers created by geography, patriarchy, and poverty.
3. Mobile Health (mHealth) Programs
Mobile phones have become tools for spreading maternal health messages. Initiatives like mMitra in India provide voice messages to expectant mothers about pregnancy care and child nutrition in local languages. From a sociological view, this bridges the gap between formal health systems and community knowledge.
4. Awareness and Education Campaigns
Social media platforms, community radio, and digital campaigns educate mothers on nutrition, hygiene, vaccination, and family planning. These campaigns promote behavioral change and gradually challenge traditional beliefs that may harm maternal health.
5. Data Collection and Policy Making
ICT enables large-scale surveys and real-time data collection on maternal and child health. This sociological function of ICT ensures evidence-based policy-making and resource distribution, addressing inequalities more effectively.
Sociological Benefits of ICT in Mother & Child Health
1. Women’s Empowerment
Access to ICT gives mothers knowledge and autonomy in decision-making. Instead of depending solely on family elders or traditional healers, women can directly access reliable health information. This weakens patriarchal control and promotes gender equality.
2. Community Participation
ICT strengthens collective action by connecting women’s self-help groups, NGOs, and health workers. It creates solidarity networks that advocate for better health services and social reforms.
3. Reduction of Social Inequality
In many developing countries, ICT reduces disparities by reaching marginalized populations. For instance, tribal women or urban slum dwellers can access health information and government schemes through digital platforms, countering class and caste-based exclusion.
4. Cultural Transformation
ICT plays a transformative role by questioning harmful cultural practices. For example, messages promoting institutional delivery over home birth challenge traditional practices that increase maternal risk.
5. Strengthening State and Civil Society Interaction
ICT acts as a mediator between government health programs and the community. Through apps and portals, citizens can hold health institutions accountable, fostering transparency and trust in governance.
Challenges and Sociological Concerns on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
While ICT has great potential, its application in mother and child health care is not free from challenges:
- Digital Divide – Many rural women lack access to mobile phones or internet connectivity, reinforcing existing inequalities.
- Gender Gap in Technology Use – In patriarchal societies, men often control mobile devices, limiting women’s independent access to ICT.
- Cultural Resistance – Some communities distrust modern health information, clinging to traditional practices.
- Privacy Concerns – Digital health records may expose women’s reproductive information, raising issues of confidentiality.
- Dependence on Technology – Over-reliance on ICT may weaken traditional community-based care structures, leading to a loss of local social capital.
These sociological concerns highlight that technology alone cannot solve maternal health challenges without inclusive policies and cultural sensitivity.
Case Studies: ICT and Maternal Health in India
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): ICT tools track pregnant women under this program, providing financial incentives for institutional deliveries. This initiative has sociologically reduced maternal mortality and challenged the cultural preference for home births.
- Kilkari Program: A mobile voice messaging service in India that sends weekly updates to mothers and families about pregnancy and child care. It reflects how ICT integrates health education with cultural communication models.
- Arogya Setu and CoWIN Platforms: Though mainly used during the COVID-19 pandemic, these apps showed how ICT could manage large-scale health interventions, which can be replicated for maternal and child health programs.
Future Directions on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
Sociologically, the future of ICT in mother and child health care depends on:
- Bridging the Digital Divide – Ensuring universal access to ICT devices for women, especially in marginalized communities.
- Gender-Sensitive ICT Policies – Promoting female digital literacy and equal access to technology.
- Integration of Traditional Knowledge – Blending scientific health information with culturally accepted practices for better acceptance.
- Community-Based ICT Models – Using local women health workers (ASHAs, Anganwadi workers) as mediators between technology and community.
- Global Solidarity through ICT – International collaborations using ICT can share strategies, reducing maternal mortality globally.
Conclusion on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
From a sociological perspective, ICT in mother and child health care is not merely about medical technology but about reshaping social relations, challenging inequalities, and empowering women. It acts as a bridge between the state, civil society, and individuals, ensuring that maternal and child health is not left at the mercy of tradition or poverty.
However, to maximize its potential, societies must address the digital divide, gender inequality, and cultural resistance. ICT must be seen not as a replacement for social structures but as a complement to them—helping communities adopt healthier practices while respecting cultural contexts.
Thus, ICT is not just a tool of modernization but a sociological force capable of transforming maternal and child health care into a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering system for all.
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Topic-related questions on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
5 Marks Questions on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
- Define ICT and explain its relevance in mother and child health care.
- Mention two ways ICT empowers women in maternal health care.
- What is the role of mobile health (mHealth) in maternal health awareness?
- List any two sociological challenges of ICT in maternal and child health care.
- Explain the significance of the Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) in India.
10 Marks Questions on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
- Discuss the sociological importance of ICT in reducing maternal and child health inequalities.
- How does ICT help in challenging harmful cultural practices related to maternal and child health?
- Examine the role of telemedicine in bridging the rural–urban divide in maternal health care.
- “ICT acts as a tool of women’s empowerment in maternal and child health care.” Discuss with examples.
- Explain how ICT strengthens state–society interaction in the field of maternal and child health.
15 Marks Questions on ICT and Mother & Child Health Care
- Critically analyze the impact of ICT on mother and child health care from a sociological perspective.
- Discuss the benefits and challenges of ICT in maternal and child health care with reference to India.
- Evaluate how ICT can act as a force of social change in promoting maternal and child health.
- Examine the role of ICT in addressing social inequality and gender gap in maternal health care.
- Suggest future strategies for improving maternal and child health care using ICT, keeping in mind sociological concerns.