JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Pregnancy is a pivotal phase in a woman's life, demanding special attention to ensure maternal and fetal health. Prenatal education plays a vital role in promoting healthy pregnancies and reducing adverse outcomes for pregnant women. Mobile prenatal education programs have gained traction due to their accessibility and timeliness, especially in light of finite healthcare resources and the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective:

This study aims to the development and evaluation of the effectiveness of a mobile-based prenatal education program in improving pregnancy outcomes.

Methods:

The mobile-based prenatal education curriculum was collaboratively developed with a multidisciplinary maternal care team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) in Beijing, China. Data were retrospectively collected from 1,941 pregnant women who had registered for the PUMCH mobile prenatal education program and subsequently delivered at PUMCH between May 2021 and August 2022. The study compared pregnancy outcomes between the completing group, which were pregnant women who had completed at least one course, and the not completing group. We also analyzed differences among course topics within the completing group and assessed course topic popularity among pregnant women.

Results:

The PUMCH mobile prenatal education curriculum consists of 436 courses across nine topics. Out of the participants, 1,521 did not complete any courses, while 420 completed at least one. compared to the non-completing group, pregnant women who completed courses exhibited a significant reduction in the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, induced abortion, postpartum infection, fetal intrauterine distress, and neonatal malformation. Among those in the completing group, a 86.0% (361/420) started course completion during the first and second trimesters. Furthermore, completing courses related to topics of pregnancy psychology and pregnancy nutrition was associated with reduced risks of preterm premature rupture of membranes and small for gestational age infants, respectively. Pregnancy psychology and postpartum recovery were the preferred topics among pregnant women.

Conclusions:

The study demonstrates the potential of mobile-based prenatal education programs in improving pregnancy outcomes and supporting healthcare providers in delivering effective prenatal education. The rise of mobile prenatal education presents an opportunity to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Further research and broader implementation of such programs are warranted to continually improve maternal and child health.