A Scoping Review on the Effect of Digital Health Use for Maternal Care

Abstract

Digital health technologies have emerged as innovative tools for monitoring and managing maternal care. However, this area remains largely under-reviewed. This scoping review comprehensively maps existing research on their impact across hypertension management, maternal mental health, breastfeeding support. Articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct. Studies were screened and synthesized to assess the impact of digital health interventions across the selected domains. Finding show varied effectiveness. For hypertension, Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure (SMBP) with telemonitoring improves accessibility and adherence without significant cost. For mental health, internet-based CBT effectively reduces fear of childbirth, but app-based interventions show inconsistent impact. For breastfeeding, smartphone apps are feasible but often fail to significantly improve rates due to low user engagement, while multi-component programs notably enhance maternal skill. Digital tools such as the "Safe Delivery App"show significant potential in improving access and skill in maternal care. However, their effectiveness is context dependent, with challenges including technical difficulties, low user engagement, and the need for more robust evidence on cost effectiveness and long-term outcomes. Digital health interventions offer promising benefits for maternal care, though effectiveness remains context-dependent and evidence limited. Future research should focus on optimizing interventions by considering contextual factors and employing robust outcome measures.