Implicating Innovation of Application Program “Ma-Ma” on Mobile Phones for Promoting Health in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Promoting knowledge and health care behaviors among pregnant women through mobile application (app) is one approach to provide access, enhance understanding, and deliver accurate information to the targeted group. However, there are still limitations in assessing the outcomes of using mobile app for promoting maternal health during pregnancy. This study applied the innovative 'Mama' app and employed a quasi-experimental research design with a single-group pretest-posttest method to investigate the knowledge and health behaviors of pregnant women, hemoglobin concentration, average weight gain before childbirth, and satisfaction towards app utilization. The sample group consisted of pregnant women receiving prenatal care at a clinic in an eastern province of Thailand (N=30). Research tools involved questionnaires, measurements, and recording forms. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. The study findings indicated that, before and after the intervention, the average knowledge scores (= 28.56, S.D. = 4.78;  = 37.25, S.D. = 3.25) and average scores of maternal health behaviors during pregnancy (=165.18, S.D. = 12.48; =171.10, S.D. = 9.13) were significantly differed (p < .001). Moreover, the mean hemoglobin concentration after the intervention (Hct = 36.35%) was higher than before (Hct = 35.01%) with a difference of .34%, and the average weight gain during pregnancy increased to 11.18 kilograms. The sample group expressed high overall satisfaction (mean = 4.62) towards the 'Mama' app. These findings suggest that the application of the 'Mama' app on mobile devices effectively enhances pregnant women's knowledge and self-care during pregnancy, leading to significant improvements in hemoglobin concentration and weight gain. Therefore, the 'Mama' app represents a valuable digital tool to empower pregnant women in managing their health during pregnancy, utilizing current digital technology.