Use of mobile applications and blogs by pregnant women in Turkey and the impact on adaptation to pregnancy

Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate how the use of mobile applications and blogs impacts on a woman's pregnancy. Design: This was a descriptive study. A questionnaire and the Prenatal Self Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) were administered to collect the data. The PSEQ was developed to evaluate a woman's adaptation to pregnancy before labour and contained seven subscales: acceptance of pregnancy, identification of a motherhood role, relationship with her mother, relationship with her husband, preparation for labour, prenatal fear of helplessness and loss of control in labour and concern for the well-being of self and baby. Lower scores indicated a greater level of adaptation to pregnancy. Settings: Data were collected from gynaecology and obstetrics outpatient clinics in a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Participants: A total of 230 women agreed to participate in the study. Women were included if they were literate, were 25–40 weeks pregnant, had experienced no complications during pregnancy and did not have a psychiatric illness or disorder. Measurement and findings: A total of 43.1% of women reported using at least one mobile application during pregnancy, and 34.3% reported using at least one pregnancy-related blog. The mean total PSEQ score was 133 (mobile applications users’ score: 129; blogs users’ score: 130). There were no significant differences between those women using and those not using mobile applications in terms of the total PSEQ score; however, pregnant women using mobile applications had better adaptation levels to pregnancy in terms of their acceptance of pregnancy and relationship with her husband. No significant differences were found between those women using and those not using pregnancy blogs in terms of the total PSEQ score; however, pregnant women using blogs had better adaptation levels to pregnancy in terms of the relationship with her mother. Key conclusions: This study revealed that the use of mobile applications and blogs is common among pregnant women. The use of mobile applications and blogs both enhance a woman's adaptation to pregnancy but in different ways. Implications for practice: In accordance with these results, technology-based training materials (e.g. mobile applications, blogs etc.) should be developed and used in the health education and counselling of pregnant women.