Telemedicine Research Paper

The health status of the over 3 billion individuals living in rural areas across the globe often lags behind that of their urban counterparts by nearly every measure. With the health of so many people at stake, these disparities demand a response (Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2014). Rural pregnant women and infants, both deemed vulnerable populations by the World Health Organization, experience these inequalities severely, especially with regards to prenatal and neonatal care. According to the Population Reference Bureau, rural women are less likely than urban women to receive the four recommended prenatal care visits, less likely to have a skilled birth attendant present during delivery, and more likely to give birth at home. All of
This paper focuses on the problems and programs that exist in Latin America. Through the analysis of existing telemedicine initiatives in the region and examples of successful obstetrics focused telemedicine in other regions of the world, this paper will address the practicality and efficacy of implementing further programs. A literature review was conducted using relevant databases and search terms to assess the availability of pertinent research. The review examined existing programs in the region and evaluated their success in improving maternal and infant health with hopes of demonstrating that telemedicine should be expanded in rural Latin America as a means of improving health outcomes by increasing access to prenatal care. The scarcity of relevant studies and reviews demonstrated the lack of knowledge and specific programs of this type in the region. It established the need for further research to continue to evaluate the long-term effects of telemedicine programs on health outcomes as well as their continuing costs and utilization. Additionally, researchers and governments must continue to develop new, more affordable, and more practical technologies to better equip health care professionals to serve rural, isolated communities and continue to implement programs to serve the health needs of this