Pregnancy and the early postpartum period are key for maternal health, with excessive weight gain posing long-term risks. Women with low socio-economic status (SES) are at increased risk, but this group is often not reached. Mobile Health (mHealth) solutions, combined with face-to-face counselling, might better reach such a vulnerable population. The I-PREGNO study evaluated a blended care intervention to improve health behaviours and mental health in women with low SES during the perinatal period. This two-arm, cluster-randomised controlled trial included an intervention group (mHealth and face-to-face counselling by midwives; n = 32) and a control group (treatment as usual; n = 48). Midwives were randomised to either arm, and recruited pregnant women with low SES. The intervention lasted from 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy to 8 weeks postpartum. The main outcome was maternal body mass index (BMI), and secondary outcomes included dietary behaviour, physical activity (PA), and psychological factors. All were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Intervention effects were evaluated with linear regression. No effects were observed on BMI or PA. Compared to the control group, the intervention led to short-term improvements in vegetable, meat and snack consumption, however, these effects were not maintained at follow-up. The intervention also improved self-efficacy post-intervention and at follow-up, and decreased emotional eating and parenting stress at follow-up. A blended care intervention enhanced psychological competencies and short-term dietary behaviours in women with low SES. Limited long-term effects and recruitment challenges highlight the need for further research.
Boehlke et al. (Tue,) studied this question.