Implementação de Ferramenta Digital de Apoio à Maternidade

All study participants will be given access to a postpartum support app. They will be asked to use this app for 8 weeks. Periodic surveys will be administered at 10 days, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post enrollment. Baseline measurements will be collected at enrollment.

The smartphone app is designed to provide postpartum education, screening and tracking, and positive parenting support for newly postpartum English-language speakers in Pennsylvania.

20 questions tailored from the Unified Theory of Acceptance of Use of Technology (UTAUT) asked at 3 study timepoints: 10 days, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. 11 of the 20 questions are repeated across timepoints that assess the smartphone app (e.g., "The amount of information in [the app] is what I need" or "Overall, I like [the app]"). The remaining 9 are specific to distinct features of the app that are made available to the user at specific timepoints (e.g., "I like the way the healing check-in looks and feels"; "I like the way the [2-month] baby milestones look and feel"). Answers are measured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from (1)strongly disagree to (5) strongly agree (5), unless reverse-coded. Means and standard deviations will be calculated for each item, with higher responses indicating higher levels of acceptability.

Feasibility will be measured using rate of engagement. Engagement will be evaluated by the number of study weeks that users uniquely access the smartphone app.

From a list of 14 postpartum symptoms, participants will be asked to classify the symptom with the appropriate response: monitor at home, call your provider, or call 911/seek emergency care. Baseline knowledge will be measured at enrollment based on the number correct out of 14, with follow-up measurements taken at 10 days, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

From a list of 10 statements focused on parenting practices, participants will rate the statements from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Example statements include, "Skin-to-skin contact improves baby health and development," "Babies need strict routines" (reverse coded), and "Infants should be fed when they show hunger cues." These responses are summed, with higher scores indicating stronger endorsement of positive parenting. These measurements are taken as a baseline measurement at enrollment, and then again at 10 days, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

Well-visit (maternal) and check-up (infants) attendance are surveyed on day 10, week 4, and week 8 (e.g., "Has your baby (or twins) had their first well visit with their pediatrician yet?" or "Have you attended a postpartum check-up?"). Non-routine healthcare utilization is surveyed at week 4 and week 8 (e.g., "In the last 4 weeks, did your baby (or twins) have a visit at an emergency department?"or "In the last 8 weeks, did you call, message or schedule a visit with your Obstetrician or Primary Care Provider for a reason other than a postpartum check-up?"). Distributions for each response will be used for analysis.