The Effect of Mobile App Counseling on Postpartum Contraception Choices and Use

Burcu Dişli Oktar

Status: Completed

Conditions: Contraception Use

Treatments: Other: Routine postpartum care; Behavioral: Contraceptive counseling via mobile application; Behavioral: Face-to-face contraception counseling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07251569

2023/76

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of a mobile application developed for postpartum contraception counseling on contraception method choice and use among postpartum women aged 18 and older. The main hypotheses it aims to answer are;

• H1: Among postpartum women, the use of highly effective contraceptive methods is higher in the group using a mobile application for contraception counseling compared to the group receiving face-to-face counseling.
• H2: Among postpartum women, the use of highly effective contraceptive methods is higher in the group using a mobile application for contraception counseling compared to the group receiving routine postpartum care.
• H3: Contraceptive method continuation and satisfaction are higher in the group using a mobile application for postpartum contraception counseling compared to the group receiving face-to-face counseling.
• H4: Contraceptive method continuation and satisfaction are higher in the group using a mobile application for postpartum contraception counseling compared to the group receiving routine postpartum care.

Researchers will compare three groups:

1. Group receiving contraception counseling via mobile app: Women in this group will have a postpartum contraception counseling mobile application installed on their phones and will use the application for 12 weeks.
2. Group receiving face-to-face contraception counseling: These women will receive face-to-face contraception counseling during the initial encounter, and an educational booklet will be provided at the end of the counseling session.
3. Control group: Women in this group will receive routine postpartum care. All groups will be followed up at three time points: the initial encounter, the first follow-up, and the second follow-up.

The initial encounter will be conducted face-to-face at the hospital within the first 5 days postpartum. The first follow-up will take place by phone at 6 weeks postpartum, and the second follow-up will be conducted by phone at 12 weeks postpartum.

Full description

Reproductive and sexual health rights are part of fundamental individual rights. Every individual, regardless of gender, has the right to access quality reproductive health services and to decide freely whether or not to have children. Contraceptive counseling guides individuals to make their own informed decisions in line with these rights, without being directive. The postpartum period is a particularly suitable time to provide contraception counseling for planning future pregnancies. Furthermore, qualified counseling during this period helps prevent unintended pregnancies and contributes to the protection and improvement of maternal and child health. However, due to the short duration of hospital stays after childbirth, women may not feel ready to receive counseling during their stay. In addition, as mothers often prioritize the care of their newborns and older children, they may miss postpartum follow-up visits, resulting in contraception counseling not being delivered effectively.

International literature, including reports from the World Health Organization, has emphasized the inadequate provision of contraception counseling during the postpartum period and highlighted the development of mobile applications to address this issue. These applications assist individuals in choosing safe, effective, and appropriate contraceptive methods, enabling them to easily manage and monitor their reproductive health. Moreover, mobile applications contribute to national health systems by reducing costs and improving access to contraception counseling services for individuals living in rural or underserved areas, allowing access anytime and anywhere.

This study aims to develop a mobile application specifically designed for postpartum contraception counseling and to determine its effect on postpartum women's contraceptive method choice and continued use.

Enrollment: 97 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being 18 years of age or older
• Being within the first 5 days postpartum
• Having a healthy newborn
• Not having received fertility treatment for the last pregnancy
• Not having undergone tubal ligation during delivery
• Owning a smartphone
• Being able to use a mobile application
• Having internet access
• Being able to speak, read, and write in Turkish

Exclusion criteria

• Having previously received contraceptive counseling
• Discontinuing the use of the mobile application
• Not participating in follow-up visits
• Not volunteering to participate in the study
• Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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97 participants in 3 patient groups

Control Group

Other group

Description:

Participants received no intervention and only received routine hospital postpartum care.

Treatment:

Other: Routine postpartum care

Face-to-face counseling group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants received contraception counseling and an educational booklet.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Face-to-face contraception counseling

Mobile application counseling group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received contraceptive counseling through a mobile application developed as part of the study.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Contraceptive counseling via mobile application