Detection of Potential Arbovirus Infections and Pregnancy Complications in Pregnant Women in Jamaica Using a Smartphone App (ZIKApp): Pilot Evaluation Study

• DOI: 10.2196/34423
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01T13:00:56Z
• Authors: Elisa Ruiz-Burga; Patricia Bruijnin...; Paulette Palmer; Annalisa Sandcroft; Georgina Fernandes; Marieke de Hoog; Lenroy Bryan; Russell Pierre; Heather Bailey; Carlo Giaquinto; Claire Thorne; Celia D C Christie
• Keywords: Original Paper; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; LMIC; adherence; arbovirus; compliance; digital health; low- and middle-income countries; mHealth; maternal health; mobile phone; pregnancy; pregnancy complications; pregnancy outcomes; prenatal care; R; Medicine

There is growing evidence of the benefits mobile health technology, which include symptom tracking apps for research, surveillance, and prevention. No study has yet addressed arbovirus in pregnancy.This aimed to evaluate use a smartphone app (ZIKApp) self-report symptoms pregnancy complications assess compliance with daily diaries during cohort women an arbovirus-endemic, subtropical, middle-income country (Jamaica).Pregnant aged ≥16 years, having smartphone, planning on giving birth at recruiting center were enrolled between February 2020 July 2020. ZIKApp comprised diary based algorithms identify potential episodes infection complications. Sociodemographic, epidemiological, obstetric information was collected enrollment, additional review medical records, users' perception through exit survey. Descriptive analyses logistic regression analysis possible factors associated adherence performed.Of 173 enrolled, 157 (90.8%) used median duration 155 (IQR 127-173) days until end, 6 (3.5%) <7 days, 10 (5.8%) exited early. For each successive 30-day period from enrollment up 150 after these women, 121 (77.1%) 129 (82.2%) completed their diary; 50 (31.8%) 56 (35.7%) did so same day. Overall, 31.8% (50/157) had good reporting (ie, they task day or 2 3 later ≥80% enrolled). 3-fold higher odds participants >34 years versus those 25 29 (adjusted ratio 3.14, 95% CI 1.10-8.98) 2-fold tertiary secondary education 2.26, 1.06-4.83). Of 161 who ever made entry, 5454 individual reports (median 17 per woman; IQR 4-42; range 0-278); 9 (5.6%) reported combinations triggering episode (none adverse outcome) 55 (34.2%) painful uterine contractions vaginal bleeding, mainly month before delivery. 51.8% (71/137) rated as excellent experience less likely be poor adherers (P=.04) 99.3% (138/139) that easy understand use.This pilot found high ZIKApp. It demonstrated feasibility usability arbovirus-endemic region, supporting its future development contribute surveillance diagnosis infections optimize maternal care.