A Scoping Review of Digital Technologies in Antenatal Care: Recent Progress and Applications of Digital Technologies

Abstract

Introduction: Integrating digital health technology into antenatal care has revolutionised patient monitoring, diagnosis, and management. As expectant mothers increasingly embrace social media, the Internet, and smartphone applications, leveraging digital health interventions presents immense potential for enhancing maternal healthcare. Objective This review aims to assess digital health modalities, their applicability, and outcomes in maternal care. Method We conducted a scoping review by searching four electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost), performing manual searches of Google Scholar, and examining the references of relevant studies. Eligible studies included original research published in English between 2018 and January 2023 involving the usage of digital health interventions for antenatal care, complying with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping review guidelines. Results A total of 61 eligible articles were identified, where most (n = 37) were conducted in high-income countries such as the US, UK, and Australia. Over the past five years, digital intervention studies motivated by increased telehealth adoption in affluent nations have increased consistently. These interventions primarily encompass patient–provider consultations, remote monitoring, and health education, often supplementing or even replacing in-person visits. Notably, acceptance and satisfaction levels among patients and healthcare providers engaging with digital health interventions were high. The interventions primarily addressed general maternal care (n = 22, 36.06%), mental health issues (n = 7, 11.47%), high-risk pregnancies (n = 5, 8.19%), hypertensive disorders (n = 4, 6.55%), gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 7, 11.47%), antenatal education (n = 5, 8.19%), and gestational weight gain (n = 3, 4.91%). The review findings consistently demonstrated that digital health interventions yielded positive results in effectively managing clinical conditions, improving knowledge, and promoting birth preparedness during the perinatal period. Additionally, these interventions digitally enhanced antenatal care service access and utilisation. Conclusion Digital health is gaining importance in maternal and child care, where patients and healthcare providers demonstrate positive outcomes and high acceptance. Safety and privacy concerns are rarely discussed, but no adverse effects have been reported, and standard care is maintained. The increasing prevalence of digital technologies paves the way for the widespread adoption of digital health in antenatal care, shaping the future of maternal care.