safe+natal harnesses smartphone technology to guide midwives and community-based health providers through taking accurate measurements of maternal health and fetal development.

This novel technology uses a smartphone-powered device that incorporates detailed checklists of maternal and newborn warning signs along with blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and ultrasound to measure maternal health and fetal growth during pregnancy.  The user-interface of the device is audio and pictogram-based, which can support users of diverse educational and linguistic backgrounds.  The smartphone application records and securely transmits patient information for review by clinical staff, flagging serious complications for immediate follow-up.

The safe+natal equipment includes a smartphone, doppler ultrasound, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and speaker. The total cost is about $200 per kit.

Lay midwives in rural Guatemala with low literacy have successfully been trained and implemented use of safe+natal in their patient visits.