Usage of Smartphone Apps by Women on Their Maternal Life
R. Jayaseelan1, Dr.
C. Pichandy2, D. Rushandramani3,
1Research Scholar, Department
of Mass Communication and Journalism, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu, India
2Head, Department of
Mass Communication and Journalism, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu, India
3Research Scholar, Department
of Mass Communication and Journalism, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu,
India
*Corresponding Author
E-mail: jayaseelan.sr@gmail.com; cpichaandy@yahoo.co.in; venkatvari@ymail.com
Abstract:
Mobile phone usage has proliferated in
recent years. Few places worldwide people are enjoying speedy utilization
mobile phone. Women appear to be taking the lead when it comes to smart phone
technology phone use when compared with men. Mobile
phones apps make participation possible for women to access the health care
they need, including family planning, birth, child care, and survival. This
article begins to address the usage of smart phone apps and its role in the
everyday life of the pregnant women and young mothers. The overall result of
the study reveals that the women in the middle class and lower middle class
families use smart phone and its applications more frequently during their
pregnancy period for various reasons when comparing to the women in the upper
middle class and higher income women.
KEY WORDS: E-Health,
Pregnancy, New Media, Mobile-Applications, Smart Phones
Introduction:
In today’s technology driven world, electronic devices have become an
essential one in everyday life. Whether used for official or personal life,
these devices influence and shape the way we think, in both thoughtful and
accidental ways. The rapid development of internet and communication
technologies in the past twenty years had changed the lifestyle of human beings
in the entire world. People who are in city and village can access equal
eminence lifestyles. Edward and Bruce (2002) observe that, “sources of
information and other opportunities available via the new media are increasing
exponentially. The communication technology using mobile devices improves
education, health and economics of people.
Received on 27.04.2015 Modified on 20.05.2015
Accepted on 25.05.2015 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Research J. Science
and Tech. 7(3):July- Sept. 2015; Page 158-164
DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2015.00022.4
Mobile phone usage has proliferated in recent years. Few places
worldwide people are enjoying speedy utilization mobile phone. May and Hearn
(2005) Most of the mobile phones nowadays are addressed as ‘smart phone’, as
they are very much advanced in technological factor and being in connected than
the ordinary mobile phone. Smart phones has now repositioned as “new information medium” with all the basic
facilities like making calls, short message services and multimedia messages. Agarwal and Prasadh (1999) explores,
smart phones have extended list of
information processing functionalities such as managing personal time
schedule, accessing Internet contents, editing documents, utilizing
location-awareness function, and many other exciting applications. According to Donald (2014) women are much more
likely than men to read news information found within social media on their
smart phones according to the latest mobile media survey. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report (2015) stated,
that ‘a large proportion of India’s new internet users is likely to be female
who are in rural, regional language speakers, compared with existing users who
are mostly young, urban and professional’. Hyeon
Jihye and Syed Nitas Iftekhar (2016) in their
research they pointed out That Korea showed that only 1% participants are not
willing to use an application even though it is useful to them. This research
concluded Smartphone applications for pregnant women will be an effective
educational tool compared to other existing mediators even though frequency or
scope of using it would be varied according to the user's age. Oglivy Action (2013) Women appear to be taking the lead
when it comes to smart phone technology (ST) phone use, with 56 percent owning
a smart phone compared with 51 percent men. This also translates when it comes
to using health applications (apps) with around 9 percent women more likely to
use these compared with 4 percent men.
Ming-Chuan Kuo et al (2012) says mobile health
application becomes a very important tool to provide high quality health
services. Smartphone medical applications have a
major role to play in women’s health with their roles being very broad, ranging
from improving health behaviors to undertaking personalized tests. Petrie (2013)conducted a survey, in which 203 pregnant women found that
94 percent reported that smart phone had changed their life for better, with 65
percent reporting that they had downloaded pregnancy apps, with an average of
three being downloaded during the gestation period. Rotheram-Borus,
Tomlinson (2012) in low- and middle-income countries smart phones also provide
an excellent platform to support and improve the quality of healthcare systems
for women.
According to a study from AOL (2013), mothers are using their smart
phones 11.4% normally than the regular adult smart phone user, racking up 1,850
minutes per month with their phones. Mothers of young kids aged 5 and under
were the most active users, devoting almost 37 hours a month to apps and web
browsing on their phones AOL noted that smart phones most likely helped these
new mothers adjust to tasks related to their new role, including managing
multiple schedules, connecting with friends they had not seen recently, and
looking up symptoms—that is, satisfying multidimensional roles mammas enact as
parents, teachers, friends, doctors, and more.
Importance of the study:
Technology has been a core player in helping improve healthcare, by
reducing costs, improving patient safety and satisfaction, saving time and
effort for both patients and clinics alike, and reducing potential errors (Leyva, 2009). In recent years, mobile technology, in
particular, has greatly evolved and become a mature platform, and according to
CBS News (2010), there are around 4.6 billion mobile phones worldwide. Because
of this, many health organizations such as the World Health Organization and
experts from across the healthcare industry are looking to tap into the
potential of mobile technology to revolutionize healthcare management and
delivery (Carucci, 2009).
Sophia Alice Johnson (2014) Smartphone applications (―apps) and
social media platforms are important elements in the rapidly changing
environment around pregnancy and the transition to motherhood. Despite much
theoretical research highlighting significant changes in digital health
technologies, studies analyzing these technologies, their possible implications
and the experiences of users are few. This article begins to address the usage
of smart phone apps and its role in the everyday life of the pregnant ladies
and young mothers.
Theoretical frame work:
A structured survey questionnaire was employed to assess the acceptance
of the application from user’s perspective. The survey questionnaire was
constructed based on the “Measuring usability with the USE questionnaire”
developed by Lund (2001) 14 and the “Technology acceptance model for mobile service
(TAMM)” proposed by Kaasinen (2008) 15. The survey
was composed of two sections: (1) mothers’ demographic data and (2) smart phone
application usage.
Objective of the study:
Ř
To identify is there any difference in usage of mobile
phone before and during pregnancy
Ř
To measure the influence of mobile apps among new mothers
Ř
To measure the nature of association between the users’
demographics (occupation) and the dependent variables (usage of mobile apps).
Ř
To study the usage pattern among the users (Do they use
mobile apps)
Review of literature:
Rolf Wynn (2014) study suggests that the use of cell phones could
strengthen the primary healthcare system and increase access to healthcare.
Pregnant women accessing cell phones and would increase their utilization of
the primary healthcare system and health services. Darrell M. West
(2015) explains there are a number of ways in which advanced mobile
technologies can help improve maternal care and aid in reducing infant
mortality. Brain Dolan (2012) Mobile phones apps
make participation possible for women to access the health care they need,
including family planning, birth, child care, and survival.
Rothman
(1986) Pregnancy and mothering are no longer seen as simply a reading
assignment. Sophia (2104) explains smart phone revolution over the past few
years has had a significant impact on our lives, Smartphone applications
(―apps) and social media platforms are important elements in the rapidly
changing environment around pregnancy. Hearn, Miller and Lester (2014) explores
young women are frequent users of smart phones and internet technology; they
want short, quick answers to their pregnancy and child rearing concerns, and
prefer information readily accessible on mobile devices. The Yukon Baby smart
phone app engages women, men and their families and supports them during
pre-pregnancy.
Victoria (2014) Many of the participants found the pamphlets
and flyers that their doctors gave them, as well as the once popular book
"What to Expect When You're Expecting," out-of-date and feels that
information should be in different base. They use to see videos and use social
network and pregnancy-tracking mobile applications for pregnancy related
information.
Shadrack, the researcher
explores in the field of maternal health, mobile technology (―apps)can offer general health and health-care information to
pregnant women, provide emergency-care tips and alerts, and supply
post-delivery support. The same systems can also be used to offer information
about emerging risks to which women are frequently exposed and remind women of
the need for preventive care.
Rodger et al (2013) conducted a survey in his research in which
the, 45% women reported the use of at least one pregnancy related smart phone
app, with some participants describing them as being more relevant and useful
to them than other forms of health communication and receiving information
related to pregnancy . One of the most prevalent and natural life situations
that may increase the need for more health related information among women is
pregnancy. According to the research conducted by Lagan et al., (2010) it was
suggested that the most sought-after topics on the smart phone apps by pregnant
women were fetal development (57%), nutrition during pregnancy (56%) and
pregnancy complications (26%).
It is a daily pregnancy application
that guides women, from the baby due date given, gives answers and prepares for
baby's birth (Baby Center, 2011). The versions available are for smart phones –
iPhone, iPod Touch and Android. This targets
high-class and tech-savvy users who have the money to buy smart phones and pay
for the data charges. My pregnancy app has other features like fetal
development images – these are images developed by expert medical illustrators.
Rebekah Kates Lemke in her article says; after a baby is delivered,
the app continues to track the child's development through his or her crucial
first year of life. This keeps families in touch with the health system and
gives timely care for mothers and newborns. Community health workers say the
apps help them manage their workload as well, so they can focus on counseling
families and communicating key health messages. Ming-Chuan Kuo
et al (2012) denotes In terms of diary keeping, the apps can provide mother an
easy and handy tool within her mobile phone to document her baby’s health
status and growth patterns. She can make and keep baby’s vaccination records
with this app too. With regard to questions, she can first search the most
frequently asked questions with answers. With help of apps mother can check
with the growth trend of her baby and received a routine summary report from
service center after the data were uploaded and managed by nurses under the
supervision of physicians.
Tomlinson et al says smart-phones enable more accurate and precise
self-monitoring and tracking the infant development, for example, by prompting
users to record an image, text, or audio clip immediately when a behavior
occurs. Prompts in real time also allow automatic storing of geo-tagged and
time-stamped entries in a personal database. Spatio-temporal
traces of behaviors throughout a day, week, or month can tremendously increase
an individual’s self-understanding. In addition, these traces can increase
clinician or supervisor knowledge of detailed behavioral patterns.
Rachel Peragallo Urrutia (2015) points
out that use of Internet-based behavioral programs may be an efficient,
flexible method to enhance prenatal care and improve pregnancy outcomes. There
are few data about access to, and use of, the Internet via mobile phones (apps)
among pregnant women. Marco (2010) explains smart phone (apps) use during
pregnancy is a widespread phenomenon as the Internet offers the opportunity to
share apprehensions and doubts with other women. Medical information published
on websites cannot be considered a substitute for informed medical advice, and
patients should not take any action before consulting with a health care
professional. The key to a healthy pregnancy is proper nutrition. By eating healthy
and maintaining an active lifestyle a number of complications, varying in intensity
from anemia to miscarriage and stillbirth, can be avoided (American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2010). Pregnancy applications and websites
have provided a multitude of tools and a wealth of information on nutrition and
supplements Evan Duderewiz (2011).
Victoria (2014)
indicates antenatal ladies refer Internet to find answers to their quarries
regularly than they would like, say Penn State researchers. Women reported
using apps and other search engines because they had a lot of questions at the
beginning of pregnancy, before their first doctor's appointment for treatment.
Following the women's first visit to the obstetrician, many of them still
turned to the Internet -- in the form of both search engines and social media
-- to find answers to their questions on treatment, because they felt the
literature the doctor's office gave them was insufficient. More than two-thirds
of mothers surveyed purchase products online and close to 70 percent plan to do
so in the next 12 months. Online shopping for children is most popular with
mothers in China (87 percent) and Korea (82 percent). Across the region, the
study shows a variety of motivations for online shopping; mothers in Taiwan
cited a benefit from the lack of sales pressure, while mothers in India found
prices less expensive online, Asia Pacific (2010).
Ayaz (2013) reports new
mothers are 20% more likely use social media apps for shopping than the general
population, and 91% now use social media regularly—a 20% increase since 2010—according
to a study of moms' online social
habits by BabyCenter and Com Score.
Moreover, moms expect others to be social as well. Moms were responsible for
32% of total online spending in the last quarter, despite making up only 18% of
the total Internet audience. 78% of moms follow a brand for coupons and
discounts.
METHODOLOGY:
This investigation on the ‘Usage of smart phone apps by women on their
maternal life’ entails understanding the choice of young women using mobile
apps during maternal period. Hence, the researchers has to identify a cross
section of pregnant young mothers in Tamil Nadu and know they used or using
smart phone applications before, during and after maternity. It also becomes
important to investigate how they use mobile phone before and during pregnancy.
In this process the researcher has to focus on identifying pregnant and
young mothers in various hospitals and scan centers to collect data so as to
have a representative sample. When
the researcher embarked on this study, women both who were pregnant and new
mothers were more enthusiastic in knowing their health and infant development.
Hence the focus on this study is to know how they use smart phone application
to collect various information which they are in need related to their health
and their infants. Demographic variables such as age, and monthly income of the
respondents detailed were considered to be independent variables for the study
and usage of smart phone applications (apps) was categorized as dependent
variables. On the data gathered
through the survey method, statistical analyses were performed to find the
relationships between the independent and dependent variables.
Research Questions:
As detailed earlier, the present study
requires measuring the usage smart phone apps among the young mothers and
pregnant women before and during their pregnancy period to know information
related to their health and infant development. Hence, the following research
questions are mooted in this study so as to understand how the young mothers
and pregnant women use mobile apps and accordingly research questions are
generated below.
1)
Is there any
perceptional difference among young mothers and pregnant women in general on
using smart phones before and during pregnancy?
2)
Whether young mothers
and pregnant women differ in their perception in using mobile apps?
3)
Is there any
difference in perception in using mobile apps among young mothers and pregnant
women according to their occupation?
In order to answer
the above research questions and to understand those intricacies the researcher
developed an attitude scale so as to measure those factors which are taken from
the study. The researcher collected a total sample from 371 respondents. After
careful scrutiny it was found that some of the respondents did not answer some
of the questions and some of the items were incomplete. After removing those incomplete samples, the
final tally of respondents included in the study is 334.
Sample characteristics
Table 1: Age *
Monthly Income Cross tabulation |
||||
Age |
up to 10000 |
10001 - 20000 |
20001 and above |
Total |
21 to 25 |
8 (18.2%) |
80 (47.6%) |
48 (39.3%) |
136 (40.7%) |
26 to 30 |
16 (36.4%) |
50 (29.8%) |
48 (39.3%) |
114 (34.1%) |
31 and above |
20 (45.4%) |
38 (22.6%) |
26 (21.3%) |
84 (25.1%) |
Total |
44 (100%) |
168 (100%) |
122 (100%) |
334 (100%) |
In the above table,
it is observed that 136 respondents who are in the age group of 21 to 25 have
monthly income as (Up to 10000=08 (18.2%), 10001 to 20000=80 (47.6%),20001 and
above=48 (39.3%), 114 (Up to 10000=16 (36.4%), 10001 to 20000=50 (29.8%),20001
and above=48 (39.3%) ) respondents belongs to the age group of 26 to 30 and 84
(Up to 10000=20 (45.4%), 10001 to 20000=38 (22.6%),20001 and above=26 (21.3%) )
respondents belongs to 31 years and above.
Findings:
Table 2: Paired Samples Test
|
T |
df |
Sig. (2-tailed) |
|
Pair 1 |
How long do you use smart phone to access Internet |
1.157 |
333 |
.248 |
Table 2 (A): Paired Samples Statistics – Internet usage Before and During
|
Mean |
N |
Std. Dvt |
|
Pair 1 |
How long do you use smart phone to access Internet (Before) |
1.8503 |
334 |
1.05483 |
How long do you use smart phone to access Internet (During) |
1.7844 |
334 |
.86729 |
Table 2 and 2 A shows
the result of paired sample ‘T’ test on the comparison between the usages of
internet through smart phone among pregnant women during the pregnancy and
before which indicates there is no significance.
Table 3: One way
Analysis for 9 statements in terms of Monthly Income
1.
Do you access
pregnancy related apps |
|
N |
Mean |
Std. Dvt |
|
up to 10000 |
44 |
2.6136 |
1.38456 |
||
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.5536 |
1.38321 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
3.3115 |
1.01299 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.3413 |
1.29342 |
||
2.
Do you get tips
for on pregnant through apps |
up to 10000 |
44 |
3.3409 |
1.32846 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.6250 |
1.34337 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
3.3934 |
.71069 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.5030 |
1.15405 |
||
3.
Do you use the
apps for knowing information related to pregnancy |
up to 10000 |
44 |
3.2273 |
1.70994 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.2024 |
1.58420 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
3.5246 |
.61943 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.3234 |
1.34128 |
||
4.
Do you surf
information on fetal development through apps |
up to 10000 |
44 |
2.0682 |
1.20845 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.5000 |
1.41844 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
3.2295 |
.89799 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.2126 |
1.30592 |
||
5.
Do you check
information related to food/ nutrition during pregnancy |
up to 10000 |
44 |
1.1364 |
.34714 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
1.0893 |
.28601 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
1.2623 |
.68999 |
||
Total |
334 |
1.1587 |
.48580 |
||
6.
Do you seek for
information on treatment |
up to 10000 |
44 |
2.3182 |
1.27175 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.3155 |
1.38053 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
2.4508 |
.92801 |
||
Total |
334 |
2.8683 |
1.29703 |
||
7.
Do you share
pregnancy experience with other
friends through mobile apps |
up to 10000 |
44 |
3.2955 |
1.13259 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.2560 |
1.22351 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
2.8197 |
.78220 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.1018 |
1.08849 |
||
8.
Do you check
every week to track your infant’s development |
up to 10000 |
44 |
2.3182 |
1.19637 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.5119 |
1.37553 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
3.4918 |
.60638 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.3473 |
1.19523 |
||
9.
Do you purchase
products for your children from those apps |
up to 10000 |
44 |
2.9091 |
1.42760 |
|
10001 – 20000 |
168 |
3.7500 |
1.62226 |
||
20001 and above |
122 |
3.4590 |
1.01352 |
||
Total |
334 |
3.5329 |
1.42599 |
||
Table 3 (A): Table
of Mean for 9 statements in terms of Monthly Income |
|||||
|
F |
Sig |
|||
1. Do you access pregnancy related apps |
9.744 |
.000 |
|||
2. Do you get tips for getting pregnant through apps |
1.933 |
.146 |
|||
3. Do you use the apps for knowing information related to pregnancy |
2.185 |
.114 |
|||
4. Do you surf information on fetal development through apps |
23.852 |
.000 |
|||
5. Do you check information related to food/ nutrition during
pregnancy |
4.634 |
.010 |
|||
6. Do you seek for information on treatment |
22.931 |
.000 |
|||
7. Do you share pregnancy experience
with other friends through mobile apps |
6.701 |
.001 |
|||
8. Do you check every week to track your Infant’s development |
21.059 |
.000 |
|||
9. Do you purchase products for your children from those apps |
6.531 |
.002 |
|||
Table 3 reveals the results of ANOVA
for all the nine statements:
Statement 1: The result of one way
analysis of variance reveals that there is a significant difference towards
accessing pregnancy related apps. The Respondents with a monthly income of
10001 to 20000 have a higher mean value of m=3.55.
Statement 2: The table of one way
Analysis of Variance reveals the age of the respondents in terms of getting
tips for getting pregnant through apps is not significant.
Statement 3: The table of one way
Analysis of Variance reveals that there is no significant difference in knowing
information related to pregnancy.
Statement 4: From the results of the
table of one way Analysis of Variance, it may be understood that the income of
the respondents in terms of surfing information on fetal development is
significant. The table of means shows that respondents who earns from 10001 to
20000 have a higher mean value of m=3.50.
Statement 5: The results of the one
way Analysis of Variance show that there is significance in terms of checking
information related to food/ nutrition during pregnancy. The table of mean
explains that respondents with up to salary of 10000 have the highest mean
value of m= 1.36.
Statement 6: The table of one way
Analysis of Variance reveals that the educational qualification of the
respondents with reference to the statement ‘Do you seek for information on
treatment’ is significant. The table of means shows respondents with the salary
of 10001 to 20000 have the higher mean value of m=3.31.
Statement 7: The results of one way
Analysis of Variance there is significance in sharing pregnancy experience with
other friends through mobile apps. The table of mean details that the
respondents with salary up to 10000 having a mean value of m=3.29 are
influenced by the statement.
Statement 8: From the results of the
table of one way Analysis of Variance, it may be understood that the income of
the respondents in terms of tracking the developments on infants is
significant. The table of means shows that respondents who have monthly income
of 10001 to 20000 have a higher mean value of m=3.51.
Statement 9: The table of one way
Analysis of Variance reveals that there is significant difference in purchasing
products for your children through mobile apps. The table of means shows
respondents with income of 10001 to 20000 have higher mean value of m=3.75.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:
Our findings reveal that the Paired
‘T’ test indicates that there is no significant difference in using smart
phones. This indicates that the level of usage of smart phones among women remains
the same before and during pregnancy. Oglivy Action
(2013) observes that women appear to be taking the lead when it comes to smart phone
technology (ST) phone use, with 56 percent owning a smart phone compared with
51% men. This also translates when it comes to using health applications (apps)
with around 69% women more likely to use these smart phones both before and
during pregnancy.
The results of ANOVA test reveals that
there is a significant difference in accessing pregnancy related apps among ladies.
Women with the family income of 10001 to 20000 are using the apps more
frequently while the others use them less. Petrie
(2013) found that 94% of women reported that smart phone had changed their life
for better, with 65 percent reporting that they had downloaded pregnancy apps,
with an average of three being downloaded during the gestation period. Rotheram-Borus, Tomlinson (2012) in low- and middle-income
countries smart phones also provide an excellent platform to support and
improve the quality of healthcare systems for women. But there is no
difference in knowing information related to pregnancy on pregnancy.
In gathering information on fetal
development women in the middle class family use smart phone apps more
frequently than the others and women who have income less than 10000 use it for
checking information related to food/ nutrition during pregnancy. According to
the research conducted by Lagan et al., (2010) it was suggested that the most
sought-after topics on the smart phone apps by pregnant women were fetal
development (57%), nutrition during pregnancy (56%) and pregnancy complications
(26%). Mostly women in the middle class family use the mobile apps more
frequently than others for seeking information on treatment during pregnancy.
Women who have lesser income are more willing to share their experience with
others through mobile apps. According to Marco
(2010) smart phone (apps) use during pregnancy is a widespread phenomenon as
the Internet offers the opportunity to share experience and doubts with other
women.
Again women in the middle class family
use the mobile phone more frequently in tracking infant’s development and for
online shopping on mobile apps. Asia Pacific (2010) concludes in the research
that more than two-thirds of mothers surveyed purchase products online and
close to 70% plan to do so in the next 12 months. Online shopping for children
is most popular with mothers in China 87% and Korea 82%.The overall result of
the study reveals that the women in the middle class and lower middle class
families use smart phone and its applications more frequently during their
pregnancy period for various reasons when comparing to the women in the upper
middle class and higher income women.
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Received on 26.06.2015 Modified on 20.05.2015
Accepted on 25.05.2015 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Research J. Science
and Tech. 7(3):July- Sept. 2015; Page 151-157
DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2015.00021.2