Implementação de uma tecnologia de informação aplicada ao acompanhamento e promoção do cuidado à gestante.

Abstract

The incorporation of information technologies in the health area is a growing process, several mHealth initiatives have been designed to assist in vulnerable conditions such as pregnancy. However, there is little information about the constraints on the use of mobile information technologies by pregnant women in the Brazilian context. This research aimed to analyze the process of implementing an information technology applied to the monitoring and promotion of care for pregnant women. Thus, prior to the delivery of a technology created to provide auxiliary information on prenatal care, the perception of the use of information technologies was evaluated and only later to evaluate its immediate effect. For this, a mobile application in Web format (WebApp) was created to be used by women with usual risk pregnancies in a reference maternity hospital for a period of approximately three weeks. Two semi-structured interviews were applied to the participants before and after three weeks of using the WebApp. A content analysis of the interviews was carried out. Other social, demographic and obstetric characteristics were obtained to contextualize our results. Participants shared some degree of information need. Information technologies (internet, applications) were the most frequently used means of information and considered most useful in the face of an active search for information. The pregnant woman's booklet was the least soughtafter method, but considered to be of acceptable use. Mobile applications were considered as additional sources of information with characteristics such as speed, clarity and availability of audiovisual resources that help to get informed. Characteristics such as simple structure, clear and understandable language were highlighted as positive points for the use of the WebApp, however difficulties in access, and the lack of audiovisual resources were cited as negative points.The use of technological resources was not affected by schooling, income, number of children, previous pregnancies, but the need for information could differ according to the care received,gestational age and number of children. As highlighted in other researches, the inclusion of audiovisual resources and interactive tools is increasingly relevant.During pregnancy there is a need to be informed about several aspects, mobile information technologies are often used as a source of information. In this sense, it is important to strengthen the design of these technologies based on knowledge of the information needs of the target population, as well as their context.