Recorded presentation

Gillian Howey Kimura, MPH¹, Seema Khandelwal, MPH¹, Howard Zucker, MD², and Jeannine Greenfield, ScD, RN¹. (1) Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave, SW, Room 713E, Washington, DC 20201, 202-401-1170, ghkimura@osophs.dhhs.gov, (2) Office of Public Health and Science, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Av, SW, Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201

War and civil strife, food insecurity, limited access to safe water, poor sanitation, low educational attainment, poverty and an inadequate health system, have contributed to the poor health status of Afghans. A history of severe discrimination by the Taliban has threatened the freedoms and needs, and consequently undermined the health and well being of Afghan women and girls. The maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world, approximately 1,600 deaths per 100,000 live births , and is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. The literacy rate in this country is 51 percent for males and 21 percent for females. DHHS is using technology to design a model product to increase women's access to health information regardless of literacy level or access to formal classroom education. The product is a culturally appropriate picture book that plays descriptive audio clips when different parts of the artwork are touched. The book covers several health topics including: immunizations, nutrition, sanitation, diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis, acute respiratory illness, injury prevention, first aid, and reproductive health. Each page contains a scripted story that becomes interactive through the user's touch. The goal of the project is to give women who would not otherwise have access to health information a chance to improve the quality of their lives and that of their families. DHHS hopes that, after launching this project in Rabia Balkhi hospital in Kabul, this modality of health education will become a model for similar projects globally.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to

• Understand the key health issues facing women in Afghanistan.
• Describe an innovative solution to health education for low literacy populations.
• Understand techniques for developing culturally appropriate materials for developing countries.

Keywords: Technology, International MCH

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation