A Focus Group Study Observing Maternal Intention to Use a WIC Education App

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Health Behavior Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides vital nutrition support.
• Modernizing WIC education delivery is essential for improved health outcomes.
• Mobile applications offer a potential platform for enhanced health education and behavior change support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess technology acceptance of a mobile application prototype among WIC participants.
• To understand user intentions for a health behavior-focused mobile app.
• To identify language-specific preferences influencing app adoption.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 48 mothers (78% Hispanic-American) from WIC clinics.
• Six focus groups explored user intentions regarding a wireframe mobile application prototype.
• Thematic analysis of discussion probes based on behavioral intention constructs.

Main Results:

• Participants favored apps that were easy to navigate and addressed WIC-specific health behavior challenges.
• English speakers preferred entertaining and customizable features, while Spanish speakers prioritized functionality.
• WIC participants valued apps aiding family health management and trusted WIC-provided information.

Conclusions:

• Mobile applications are a viable strategy for updating WIC breastfeeding and nutrition education.
• Future app development must consider distinct English- and Spanish-speaking user priorities.
• Tailoring app features to language preferences can enhance technology acceptance and engagement.