Can mHealth strengthen health worker performance? Midwives' experiences using an innovative mHealth program in Timor-Leste

Abstract

<bold>Background:</bold> High-quality performance by health workers is dependent on motivation and job satisfaction. Non-financial interventions to improve motivation and job satisfaction, particularly mHealth, are under explored. This study examines mHealth's potential impact on motivation and job satisfaction through the lens of midwives using Liga Inan, a pilot mHealth program in Timor-Leste. <bold>Methods:</bold> Qualitative data on adoption, use, and impact were collected through semi-structured interviews (15) with all available midwives who had used Liga Inan longer than one month. Franco et al.'s (2002) framework of motivation guided qualitative content analysis. <bold>Findings:</bold> Liga Inan improves communication processes, strengthens support structures, and increases interaction and information exchange between midwives and patients, likely improving midwives' motivation and job satisfaction. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> mHealth's ability to improve organizational structures, processes, resources, and provider-patient relationships has the potential to improve health worker motivation, job satisfaction, and ultimately performance while contributing to sustainable health system strengthening.