JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Hospital-based health promotion resources to assist pregnant women in achieving healthy lifestyle and optimizing gestational weight gain (GWG) is important, but with limited effects. Increasingly, women are using mobile applications (apps) to access health information during the antenatal period.

Objective:

This study aimed to have a better understanding of the use of mobile apps for health information among Chinese women during pregnancy and to inform the development of health promotion program through an app.

Methods:

A mixed methods study design was applied. Study participants were recruited from two maternity hospitals in Shanghai, China between March and July 2018. A self- administered online survey was conducted with 535 Chinese pregnant women on their sources of health information and reasons for using apps during pregnancy. Four semi-structured focus groups were also conducted with pregnant women (n = 28).

Results:

The use of pregnancy related apps and internet were common among the respondents. Almost half of women had used pregnancy related apps. Specifically, the use of app for health information declined as pregnancy progressed from 70% (35/50) in the first trimester to 41.3% (143/346) in the third trimester. The main reasons of using an app were for monitoring foetal development (81.5%, 436/535) followed by learning nutrition and recording diet in pregnancy (26.2%,140/535). Women found the apps were useful and convenient for promoting lifestyle modifications during pregnancy. However, some apps also contained misinformation or incorrect information which could cause anxiety. Many women expressed the need of developing an app containing evidence-based, well-informed and tailored health information to support them during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

Smartphone apps have the potential to deliver health information, but they can also cause negative impact on women with misinformation. Efforts should be made by health professionals, app developers and policy makers to ensure quality apps to be developed for providing timely health promotion information. The apps can be intergraded into maternal care to meet the needs of pregnant women.