A Smart Bangle That Gives Pregnancy Tips

In countries like India and Bangladesh, the poor section of the society doesn’t get enough information on illnesses or health. Especially women who are pregnant. They sometimes don’t know much about pregnancy, and still, believe in the old-wives' tales about pregnancy.

An invention by Grameen Intel is changing the way maternal health operates in places like Bangladesh. Coel is a smart bangle that plays pre-recorded messages about pregnancy and maternal health. The bangle plays messages in the local language and can last up to 10 months.

The bangle also alerts the presence of too much carbon monoxide in the air.

Women in villages tend to burn wood, charcoal and animal dung and the fumes of these can be harmful to the expecting mother and her unborn child. This is a useful tool for pregnancy wellness as many women don’t know the harmful effects of these fumes and what it can do to their bodies.

Coel is made of durable plastic and is waterproof. A useful feature for women, as they can wear it at any time and don’t have to remove it during the entire length of their pregnancies. The bangle gives the right information depending on the pregnancy month, and has about 80 pregnancy related pre-recorded messages. It became available in March this year at an affordable price.

This is a small device, and can help with reducing maternal deaths in developing countries like Bangladesh and India by giving the right information at the right time.

The device can be reused if charged again. One bangle is enough for one household where multiple women might get pregnant at different times. As it doesn’t require anything, including the internet, it is a safe bet for the people in the village to use. This is a small device, and can help in reducing maternal deaths in developing countries like Bangladesh and India by giving the right information at the right time. South Asia still has the highest number of maternal deaths, and in Bangladesh itself, there are nearly 77,000 neonatal deaths annually, according to WHO.

In India, Coel has been tested in Uttar Pradesh. Coel is available in Bangladesh and India for about $12-$15.

Pic credits: Your Story

Also read: IITians Develop an App That Detects High-Risk Pregnancies