Using Digital Pens for Maternal Labor Monitoring: Evaluating the PartoPen in Kenya

The goal of the PartoPen system is to enhance the partograph, a paper-based labor monitoring tool intended to promote timely delivery of quality care by birth attendants in developing countries. The PartoPen digital system provides audio instructions for measuring and recording labor progress indicators, real-time decision support based on recorded measurements, and time-based patient-specific reminders. Previous studies of the PartoPen system showed improved partograph completion rates among students in nursing classrooms at the University of Nairobi (UoN) in Kenya. This paper presents the results of two continuation studies conducted in the maternity ward of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi. In this paper we identify and discuss the interrelated factors impacting PartoPen adoption and use in the labor ward at KNH, and review the challenges and opportunities likely to face digital pen deployments in other healthcare settings.