PretermConnect: Leveraging mobile technology to mitigate social disadvantage in the NICU and beyond

Preterm birth (PTB) - delivery prior to 37-weeks gestation - disproportionately affects low-income and minority populations and leads to substantial infant morbidity and mortality. The time following a PTB represents an optimal window for targeted interventions that encourage mothers to prioritize their own health and that of their babies. Healthcare teams can leverage digital strategies to address maternal and infant needs in this postpartum period, both in the neonatal intensive care unit and beyond. We therefore developed PretermConnect, a mobile app designed to educate, engage, and empower women at risk for PTB. This article describes the participant-centered design approach of PretermConnect, with preliminary findings from focus groups and co-design sessions in different community settings and suggested future directions for mobile technologies in population health. Apps such as PretermConnect can mitigate social disadvantage by serving as remote monitoring tools, providing social support, preventing recurrent PTB and lowering infant mortality rates.