Unlocking the Adoption of a Smartphone Application for High-Risk Pregnant Women in the Lao People's Democratic Republic: A Mixed-Methods Study.
Sasitara Nuampa, Sudaporn Payakkaraung, Manassawee Srimoragot and 3 others
PMID 40696719WHAT IT FOUND
High-risk pregnant women in Laos reported moderate to high acceptance of a maternity smartphone app, especially if they had a pre-pregnancy condition or better digital health literacy.
Anxiety lowered acceptance. It shows readiness, not proof the app improves pregnancy outcomes.
Key findings
01Nearly half of the 167 women reported moderate app acceptance and one-third reported high acceptance.
02In the regression model, pre-pregnancy non-communicable disease and higher eHealth literacy predicted greater acceptance, while higher health anxiety predicted lower acceptance.
03Interviews identified four themes, including positive perceptions related to self-awareness and health information, and barriers to app use.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Participants were recruited by convenience sampling at four tertiary hospitals in the capital city, so the findings may not apply to other settings. The women had to read and write Lao and were at least 28 weeks gestation, so younger gestational age and non-Lao language users were not represented. App acceptance was judged from descriptions and demonstrations, not from real-world use, so perceived usability may differ once women actually used it. The study measured acceptance and self-reported factors, not maternal or neonatal outcomes, so it does not show that the app improves pregnancy safety. Qualitative interviews were conducted by a Thai research team with Lao participants, which may have introduced subtle language and cultural differences. The study did not follow women over time or test real-world use, so it cannot show sustained adoption or causal effects.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The named funder was The Rockefeller Foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the Care for MOM app improves pregnancy outcomes or is ready for routine use. The study measured acceptance after descriptions and demonstrations, not real-world use, and reported no maternal or neonatal outcomes.