This is one of those uses I would have never imagined for the most famous instant messaging application. And, despite the tedious chains, the most unusual groups with the most pilgrim excuse, repeated jokes to satiety or groups of mothers and fathers of the school, it seems that WhatsApp finds interesting and useful uses. Even at the medical level, like this new project that allows diagnose pregnancy complications through WhatsApp.
In Belize a group of up to 12 gynecologists and general practitioners have prepared for this new diagnostic methodology, through a WhatsApp group managed by the Ministry of Health of the Central American country, with the support of the Mesoamerica Health Initiative. Professionals who are far away, but who share ultrasound images in real time and who can diagnose complications or, of course, confirm that a pregnancy is going well.
This is especially useful in areas where women are not easy to go to the gynecologist but they do have a family doctor within reach. While he is performing an ultrasound, if in doubt he will contact the gynecologists and share with them those images; on the other hand, they will interpret the ultrasound images and, where appropriate, could warn that something is getting complicated in the woman's pregnancy.
From the Ministry of Health of Belize they have expressed their optimism for the practical implications that this project can bring, especially to women living in rural and disadvantaged areas, where there are complications to access gynecologists. Health professionals also recognize the progress that this collaborative application represents for their daily work.
This technological innovation will allow, in a collective way and in real time, a doctor who is alone and with doubts to be supported, through the collective interpretation of the images. The placenta previa, calcifications, fetal suffering, even injuries caused by trauma are some of the diagnoses that can be carried out and even lives of both the mother and the baby can be saved.
The World Health Organization warns that maternal mortality is higher in rural areas and in the poorest communities and points out that specialized care before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of pregnant women and newborns, which is why it is so important to devote resources to adequate medical care during pregnancy.
But, just as other means would require a large investment, for the WhatsApp group among doctors to work, you only need to have mobile phones with an Internet connection, something increasingly widespread, although in developing countries there is still a long way to go . And although direct consultation with a specialized (and well-trained) professional will always be better, this is undoubtedly an easy way to approach women in remote areas or without resources.
That pregnancy complications can be detected through WhatsApp It is a great example of how this technology can be more than just fun and go beyond simple communication and above all a great help and hope for those women who do not have easy gynecological care during pregnancy, so important for good pregnancy development.
