Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Date Submitted: Jun 2, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: May 27, 2025 - Jul 22, 2025
Date Accepted: Dec 24, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Mobile applications and websites with breastfeeding-related content in Germany: a cross-sectional survey and evaluation
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digital technologies have become an important source of information for new parents.
Objective:
We evaluated the scope, content and quality of free-of-charge smartphone mobile applications and websites with breastfeeding-related content in Germany.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey of mobile applications and websites was conducted in July 2023. The App Store for IOS and Google Play Store for Android were searched for mobile applications. Bing.de and Google.de were searched for websites. The quality, suitability of information, readability, and coverage of information of mobile applications and websites were evaluated. We used the standardized questionnaires Mobile Applications Rating Scale, Health-Related Web Site Evaluation Form, Suitability Assessment of Materials, Flesch-Index tool as well as a self-developed checklist.
Results:
Eight mobile applications and 13 websites were included. The quality of information sources was generally good, with websites rating higher in quality, suitability of information and coverage of information, while mobile applications were slightly easier to read. Most mobile applications and websites were of commercial nature with imbedded links to shop sites without external certificates that would confirm trustworthiness of included information.
Conclusions:
Assertive action from non-profit and governmental institutions should be provided to support providing parents with reliable and unbiased, open-access breastfeeding information in order to improve breastfeeding rates and duration.
Citation
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