Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Mobile Health Application for Monitoring Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Ibadan Community Settings

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality in Nigeria, with community-based monitoring hindered by limited resources and access to specialist care. This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness and feasibility of a bespoke mHealth application for monitoring hypertensive disorders among women attending community antenatal clinics in Ibadan. A quasi-experimental design was employed, with pregnant women diagnosed with hypertension allocated to either an intervention group using the mHealth app for daily blood pressure and symptom logging with automated clinical alerts, or a control group receiving standard care. Primary outcomes were the incidence of severe maternal hypertension and timeliness of referral. Secondary outcomes assessed user acceptability and perinatal outcomes. The intervention group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in episodes of severe hypertension compared to the control group (15% vs. 32%). Referrals for specialist review were also made more promptly in the intervention arm. Furthermore, 92% of participants found the application acceptable and easy to use. The mHealth application proved effective in improving community-based monitoring, enhancing the detection of severe hypertension, and facilitating earlier referral. Integration of such mHealth tools into routine antenatal care protocols should be considered. Further research should explore scalability and long-term cost-effectiveness within the Nigerian healthcare system.