Development and evaluation of a multifunctional smartphone application for integrated women’s physical, reproductive and mental health management

Abstract Maternal health is a complex multimorbidity and has an impact on women of all ages, ethnicities, and social classes at risk of various physical and psychological morbidity, in addition to increased risk for premature death. The prevalence of obesity and overweight among young women in Iran has increased from 6% in 1978 to 9%, and among women older than 30 years is even higher, attributed mostly to hormonal changes such as menopause and pregnancy. These problems are becoming more important with time and as the technology advances the main purpose of this study was to design and evaluate a multifunction smartphone application to give power to women for managing their health from all angles. Our app will cover two age groups (under 30 and over 30), incorporating preconception, pregnancy, lactation, menopause, physical activity and nutrition disorders such as bulimia nervosa 13 , the consumption of dietary supplements and balanced nutrition. It also helps manage weight-related issues, mental health and everyday habits among women. This study employed an applied-developmental design. In the first phase, the content of the multifunctional smartphone application was determined based on identified needs from similar studies and findings from a researcher-designed questionnaire. The application was developed in the Android Studio environment using Java 8. Then the usability, accessibility and different aspects of app features were assessed utilizing standard Usability Questionnaire form and User Satisfaction Questionnaire (QUIS) that was filled by users. The developed application includes key sections such as a home page (containing personal information like age, weight, and height), BMI calculation, mental health assessment (using questionnaires on emotional well-being, anxiety and stress, depressive symptoms, self-confidence, and social skills), nutritional recommendations (with subsections for preconception, pregnancy, lactation, menopause, physical activity, bulimia nervosa, supplements, and balanced diet, differentiated for women under 30 and over 30), reminders (for activities such as yoga, supplement intake, and medication), and trend charts (e.g., weight charts based on WHO standards, with the ability to display growth percentages). The application was presented to 40 participants, including nutritionists, psychologists, and women from different age groups, for usability evaluation. Based on the participants’ scores, it can be concluded that the study groups were able to use the application and rated it as “good.” The overall performance of the application, screen capabilities, terminology and information, learnability, and general features all scored above 6.5 out of 9. By using this application, women can become familiar with the causes and symptoms of health problems such as weight imbalances, mental disorders, and nutritional needs at different life stages, and manage their health in the most effective way possible. This application can serve as a model for designing and developing similar programs aimed at prevention, management, treatment, and care of women's health issues, with the goal of maximizing control over problems, improving quality of life, and reducing complications for users.