JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Individuals of childbearing age enter pregnancy less healthy than previous generations, placing them at increased risk for pregnancy complications. One approach to ensuring effective monitoring and treatment of at-risk pregnant/birthing people is designing technology-based interventions that prevent maternal morbidities and treat perinatal conditions.

Objective:

This scoping review evaluates what informatics interventions have been designed and tested to prevent and treat maternal morbidity.

Methods:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria were: (a) tested a medical or clinical informatics intervention; (b) enrolled pregnant/birthing people; and (c) addressed preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth, CDC-defined severe maternal morbidity, or perinatal mental health conditions. Demographic, population, and intervention data were extracted to characterize the technologies, conditions, and populations addressed.

Results:

80 studies were identified that met inclusion criteria. Of these, 73% tested technologies for either GDM or perinatal mental health conditions, and 15% tested technologies for preeclampsia. For technology, 32% of the technologies tested were smartphone or tablet application, 26% were telehealth interventions, and 15% were remote monitoring technologies. Most (79%) studies assessed patient physical or mental health outcomes.

Conclusions:

Per this scoping review, most informatics interventions address three conditions: GDM, preeclampsia, and mental health. There may be opportunities to treat other potentially lethal conditions like postpartum hemorrhage using proven technologies such as mobile applications. Ample gaps in the literature exist concerning the use of informatics technologies aimed at maternal morbidity. There may therefore be opportunities to use informatics for lesser-targeted conditions and populations.