Technology and Pregnant women: exploring pregnant women’s perception of mobile app design, utility, and information credibility

Abstract

This study contributes to the research on pregnant women and their preferred use of mobile technology by exploring the perceptions of pregnant women of mobile app design, utility, and information technology. Explanatory sequential mixed methods research design was used. Quantitative data were collected from fifty-nine pregnancy women living in the United States between March and June 2021 using anonymous web surveys administered on social media platforms to pregnant women living in the United States. Qualitative data were, gathered using online multiple case study involving co-design techniques, were obtained from four pregnant women and one gynecologist. Findings from the study demonstrate the relevance and adequacy of pregnancy apps in providing information access to pregnant patients. More than four-fifth of the participants had used pregnancy or health related apps in their current pregnancy. The results of study indicate that designers of pregnancy applications provide user friendly interfaces, information layout, fonts, information architecture, navigational aids, and menu because mobile app designs affect how pregnant patients perceive quality health information on pregnancy apps. The results also suggest that the involvement of stakeholders (i.e., people who will use the technology) in the design and development cycle is key for creating digital products and services that will meet user’s needs and goals.