Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward Smartphone Health Applications in Improving Maternal and Child Health

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) applications have changed healthcare, especially for maternity and child health. These apps offer education, remote monitoring, and clinical support, making them vital in places with fewer resources. Nurses, as primary caregivers, should be leading users. But their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) differ, affecting how well they use these apps. Aim: This study aimed to measure nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward mHealth apps for maternal and child health. It also looks at factors affecting acceptance and how education could improve use. Subjects and Method: This cross-sectional study was done at Abou Al Monagga Central Hospital, Qalyubia, Egypt, from September to October 2024. Data were collected from 276 female nurses using an online questionnaire shared in WhatsApp and Facebook groups. Results: Most nurses (98.19%) use smartphones, and 90.94% use health apps. The most used apps were Well-Baby Clinic, Maternal and Child Health Initiative, Sehha, and Egypt Health Passport. Knowledge scores were moderate (2.86/5), with the best understanding in patient education features. Attitudes toward mHealth were mostly positive (3.44/5), especially about privacy and clinical relevance. Practice scores were low (1.36/5), showing poor integration in daily tasks. Key barriers included lack of training, security concerns, and weak infrastructure. Conclusion: Better training, stronger privacy measures, and system improvements are needed to increase mHealth adoption. Helping nurses use these apps more will improve maternal and child health outcomes.