Evaluating the Impact of a Symptom Checker on Healthcare-seeking Decisions: a Mixed-Methods Study

Safety and Feasibility of the Integration of Ada Into the Mobile MomConnect Information Service for Pregnant Women and New Mothers in South Africa

The goal of this study is to evaluate the integration of a symptom checker (SC) into the MomConnect (MC) platform to support maternal healthcare in South Africa. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the SC provide safe and appropriate medical advice?
• Does the SC help mothers make informed decisions about when and where to seek healthcare, saving time and money by avoiding unnecessary visits?
• Does the SC improve access to care for those facing significant healthcare barriers?

Participants will answer survey questions before and after using the SC. A subset of participants will also be invited to participate in structured telephone interviews.

The study will help researchers assess the SC's impact on healthcare decisions and resource use in South Africa.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women registered with MomConnect, who would like to assess their or their child's symptoms
• At least 18 years of age
• Women with access to WhatsApp
• Capable of completing a symptom assessment in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Incapable of completing a symptom assessment in English via WhatsApp (e.g. due to illiteracy, language barrier, mental impairment or inebriation or other incapacity or lack of access to WhatsApp)