Exploring Psychosocial Experiences through a Phenomenological Qualitative Study of Using mHealth Applications Among Pregnant Women in Rural Communities
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Abstract
Digital health technologies have become an integral part of maternal healthcare, particularly through the growing use of mobile health (mHealth) applications to support pregnancy monitoring. While mHealth offers access and information benefits, little is known about how pregnant women in rural communities emotionally and socially experience these tools in their daily lives. Existing studies have focused on usage patterns and clinical outcomes, yet they have not explored the deeper psychosocial meanings that shape engagement with mHealth—raising the question: how do pregnant women in underserved areas experience and interpret the use of mHealth applications during pregnancy? This study uses a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of pregnant women using mHealth tools in rural settings. Participants consisted of twelve pregnant women aged 19–36 years, most of whom were in their second and third trimesters, with varied parity status. All participants resided in geographically remote rural villages characterized by limited internet infrastructure, restricted access to specialized healthcare, and socioeconomic challenges that constrained consistent digital use. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method to extract essential themes. The analysis revealed four core experiential themes: emotional ambivalence, digital isolation, cognitive fatigue, and evolving trust. These findings demonstrate that mHealth engagement is influenced not only by functional aspects but also by emotional readiness, social support, and the usability of digital tools in contextually limited environments. This study contributes to a more holistic understanding of digital health experiences and calls for future research that centers users' voices to develop more inclusive and sustainable mHealth solutions.
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References
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