GorbhoShongi: a mHealth App for the Mental Well-being of Bangladeshi Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Abstract

Mental well-being during pregnancy and postpartum periods is significantly overlooked worldwide, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. It is crucial to look after the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women, as it can have long-lasting effects on both mother and child. We conducted a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. From 187 initial articles, we carefully analyzed 18 relevant studies about mobile health (mHealth) solutions for maternal mental well-being. This review helped us understand the existing approaches and identify important gaps in current solutions. Based on our literature review, we developed a conceptual design framework for “GorbhoShongi,” a mobile health app specifically designed for pregnant and postpartum women in Bangladesh. We chose features that would be most helpful and relevant to our target users. The app is developed in both English and Bangla to reach a wide audience and ensure accessibility. Our app includes some unique features that set it apart from existing solutions. We added a large language model (LLM) chatbot and daily well-being tips to provide a more personalized and supportive experience. These features aim to offer encouragement and immediate support to users during their pregnancy and postpartum journey. We created a low-fidelity prototype of “GorbhoShongi” to demonstrate the app’s core functionalities and design principles. This prototype serves as proof of concept, show- casing how the app can provide comprehensive mental health support tailored to the Bangladeshi context. The next steps include developing a high-fidelity version of the app using JavaScript frameworks like Next.js and Capacitor.js. We also plan to conduct user testing to evaluate the app’s usability and user experience. In conclusion, “GorbhoShongi” represents an innovative approach to addressing maternal mental health challenges in a developing country. By providing a culturally sensitive, accessible, and supportive mobile health solution, we hope to contribute to improved mental well-being for pregnant and postpartum women and encourage further research in this important field.