Philips Foundation and Philips win Design Business Association Grand Prix and Gold Award for their high-risk pregnancy referral tool

Designed for low-resource settings and underserved communities, the tool comprises a simple yet highly effective set of easy-to-understand referral cards that allow community care workers to identify high-risk pregnancies and promptly refer expectant mothers to primary care services when complications arise. The cards also help care workers educate expectant mothers about healthy and unhealthy behaviors during pregnancy so their babies can have the best start in life. The cards, which have already won several previous awards, have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in boosting healthcare-seeking behavior among high-risk women residing in socio-cultural settings characterized by low literacy rates, leading to increased utilization of healthcare services.

“At Philips Foundation, we understand the pressing need to address the fact that 94% of all maternal deaths occur in low to lower-middle-income countries. To encourage positive shifts in behavior related to pregnancy risks, we embarked on a purposeful initiative. Together with ICRC, we developed easy-to-understand illustrated cards to discuss with mothers high-risk situations during pregnancies, early risk indicators, and providing incentives to see a doctor when necessary,” said Margot Cooijmans, Director of the Philips Foundation.

In 2020 alone, the High-Risk Pregnancy tool reached over 280,000 women in underserved communities across Africa, and under the stewardship of Philips Foundation and its humanitarian partners is currently being expanded into Tibet and rural China. The DBA GRAND PRIX and GOLD award recognizes the value generated by the tool, particularly in terms of raising awareness about healthcare and influencing the behavior of both healthcare providers and recipients within the targeted communities.

“These award-winning referral cards have proven to be highly effective in boosting healthcare-seeking behavior among high-risk women in socio-cultural settings characterized by low literacy rates. In these settings, going digital is not always the most effective solution. By advocating for prompt referrals to primary healthcare facilities, we have witnessed an increased utilization of healthcare services, ultimately saving lives,” Margot added.

More information on the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards can be found here.