JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

There is limited evidence of high quality, accessible, culturally safe, and effective digital health interventions for Indigenous mothers and babies. Similar to any other intervention, efficacy of digital health interventions is dependent on how well they are co-designed with Indigenous communities and their adaptability to intracultural diversity.

Objective:

This project aims to adapt an existing co-designed digital health mobile application (mHealth) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers living in South Australia (SA).

Methods:

Participants (pregnant women and mothers of children aged 0-5 years and health professionals) will be recruited from multiple Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health services under the local health networks around metropolitan SA. There are two phases of the study, the initial phase is adaption of the app and second phase (pretesting) is to assess and evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the modified app. In phase1data collection will be via culturally safe, and family friendly focus groups, facilitated by Aboriginal research staff to collect feedback on the existing mHealth application from approximately 20 mothers/pregnant women. Health professionals who predominantly care for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies from the participating local health networks will also be interviewed. This will inform the changes to be made to the mHealth application for pretesting. Phase 2 or pretesting will involve collecting information on acceptability and feasibility of the modified mHealth app from approximately 40 participants. All focus groups and interviews will be recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data will be inductively analyzed using NVIVO software, by two independent researchers. Themes about the mhealth application’s cultural acceptability, usability and appropriateness will be used to inform the changes applied to the application before pretesting in phase two. Data from phase two will be analyzed using the same method.

Results:

As a result of this study, a culturally acceptable and feasible mHealth intervention will become available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers in SA. It is anticipated that the feedback on the content for women’s and children’s health will be helpful for participants as there are opportunities to learn new information, and to engage with the use of new technologies. Participation of women will also promote ownership and community engagement. Data from the pretest phase will inform a decision to apply for funding for a clinical trial to evaluate efficacy of the app in a larger audience.

Conclusions:

The study aims to produce a culturally sensitive, effective digital health intervention to reduce health disparities among Indigenous mothers and their children, laying a foundation for a potential clinical trial and wider implementation.