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A Framework for People‐Centred Digital Health and Social Protection Information Systems for Maternal and Child Health in Underserved Kenya

Danny Ronald Nyatuka et al.

Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries2026https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.70052article
ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

Persistent maternal and child health (MCH) inequities in Kenya, especially in underserved rural and informal urban settings, are driven by fragmented health and social protection (SP) systems that operate in silos, limiting coordinated, people‐centred service delivery. Despite global reductions in mortality, Sub‐Saharan Africa continues to bear a disproportionate burden, with Kenya reporting high maternal and neonatal death rates. Digital technologies present opportunities to strengthen linkages between health and SP services; however, existing frameworks lack contextual adaptability for integrated implementation in low‐resource environments. This study develops a conceptual framework for Digitally Integrated People‐Centred Health and Social Protection Information Systems (DIPCH‐SPIS) to enhance MCH outcomes in Kenya. Guided by systems thinking, design thinking, and socio‐technical perspectives, a convergent mixed‐methods design was employed, including surveys and 47 interviews with women, community health workers, health professionals, SP officers, and policymakers in Kibera and Kitui. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative findings underwent thematic analysis (TA) to derive stakeholder‐informed design requirements. The study identifies critical contextual, organizational, and technological determinants, including weak interoperability, limited coordination, and socio‐economic vulnerabilities, and synthesizes them with WHO's Integrated People‐Centred Health Services (IPCHS) principles. The resulting framework emphasizes stakeholder collaboration, coherent information architecture, and effective use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), contributing to UHC, Africa's Agenda 2063, and SDG 3.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.70052

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@article{danny2026,
  title        = {{A Framework for People‐Centred Digital Health and Social Protection Information Systems for Maternal and Child Health in Underserved Kenya}},
  author       = {Danny Ronald Nyatuka et al.},
  journal      = {Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.70052},
}

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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