Lee VV, Vijayakumar S, Ng WY, et al. Personalization and localization as key expectations of digital health intervention in women pre- to post-pregnancy. NPJ Digit Med. Sep 30 2023;6(1):183. doi:10.1038/s41746-023-00924-6
This paper outlined the major themes from a recent series of co-design interviews with women in Singapore. The interviews aimed to illuminate which elements in a mobile app would be most useful for women across their pregnancy journey, from pre-pregnancy to early childhood development. The intervention aims to promote education around pregnancy and fetal development as well as guide users to reduce risky behaviors and cultivate healthy behaviors. Here, 44 women provided feedback on the utility of specific intervention features. Two core themes emerged when assessing the interview responses. Digital health interventions for the conception to post-birth journey should be both personalized and local. Women wanted tools that helped them track areas of interest using passive and active data entry. They expressed a desire for notifications about expected body changes based on their pregnancy timeline and that these would adapt based on new information from the users or by linking to electronic health records. Things like expected weight gain in the third trimester, general milestones, and realistic education on behavioral/mood changes post-birth. The participants also wanted the intervention to provide localized information, such as local healthcare options, when and how to make doctors’ appointments, appropriate dietary recommendations, and providing access to local support networks. Overall, women want information relevant to their current needs and circumstances, that adapt as their pregnancy journey does.