Social return on investment of a maternal, newborn, and child health hotline and tips and reminders

In Malawi the underlying causes of poor health outcomes among women and children include limited availability of timely and reliable health information, poor access to and use of health facilities, and human resource shortages. Information and communication technology (ICT) can bridge the divide between communities and life-saving health information and services. Chipatala Cha Pa Foni (CCPF) –‘health centre by phone' – is part of Concern Worldwide's Innovations in Maternal, Newborn & Child Health initiative, implemented by VillageReach and the Ministry of Health, Malawi. The project consists of a toll-free case management hotline offering protocol-based health information and referrals and personalized tips and reminders service for pregnant women and guardians of young children. VillageReach conducted a social return on investment (SROI) study to assess the social benefits in relation to the economic costs of CCPF. The study used a mixed methodology to: (1) determine the perceived social value, (2) identify the financial costs, and (3) evaluate the SROI for the intervention. The nature of the approach is participatory, in which key stakeholders of the program monetize social, health and economic benefits and losses. Initial results show users see value in the service through money saved on healthcare costs and transportation, as well as by gaining new information that has improved their health or the health of their children. The results will help inform decisions for program improvement and scale-up in Malawi as well as provide critical evidence to other projects focused on improving the coverage, delivery, and quality of MNCH services.