WHAT THE DATA SHOW: Birth outcomes during a pandemic and the rise in mHealth usage to monitor health during pregnancy

Full Description: This session examines a proven stillbirth prevention campaign and how the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to adapt to serve expectant parents and public health officials during a crisis. Using data from the Count the Kicks stillbirth prevention app, presenters analyze birth outcomes of app users during the pandemic, and how app usage increased as a way expectant parents bridged the gap in monitoring their baby’s health when they could not have normal access to their provider. At the center of this examination is how the pandemic affected app users of color and their birth outcomes. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a maternal health crisis happening across America. The pandemic exacerbated what was already broken: birthing centers closing, less access to quality prenatal care in rural areas and Black moms losing their babies at twice the rate of white moms. Count the Kicks is an evidence-based public health campaign that teaches the method for and importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy as an early warning system. Research shows a change in baby’s movements are the earliest and sometimes only indication there might be an issue with the pregnancy. Count the Kicks helped lower Iowa’s stillbirth rate by nearly 32 percent in the first decade of its existence in the state. In the first five years of the campaign the stillbirth rate among African American women dropped nearly 39% (2008-2013). Unfortunately, Black women are still two times more likely to experience a stillbirth over white women and three times more likely to experience adverse maternal health outcomes such as death. The program has been officially implemented in 14 states via partnerships with state health departments and other organizations via posters, brochures and app download reminder cards that are distributed to expectant parents via birthing hospitals, home visitors, OBGYN offices, Midwifery clinics, doulas, community-based organizations and more. The hallmark tool of the program, the free Count the Kicks app, was downloaded in all 50 states and in 140 countries during the pandemic with a 26.6 percent increase in app usage over the previous year. The app captures race and ethnicity data in addition to survey results of app users at the end of their pregnancies. This presentation not only examines birth outcomes of app users during a pandemic but asks them about COVID vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy. As of November 8, 2021, 40 percent of pregnant app users had not yet received the vaccine, with 75% indicating their reasoning for not getting the vaccine was they were concerned about the side effects and/or they didn't trust the safety of it. If chosen, presenters will provide six months of app user survey results on race, birth outcomes, app usage, and vaccine uptake --- we will reflect on our past (how an AMCHP Innovation Station Best Practice with mHealth technology reacted during a pandemic) to help shape our future.

Abbreviated Description: This session examines a proven stillbirth prevention campaign and how the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to adapt to serve expectant parents and public health officials during a crisis. Using data from the Count the Kicks stillbirth prevention app, presenters analyze birth outcomes of app users during the pandemic, and how app usage increased 26.6 percent over the previous year as a way expectant parents bridged the gap in monitoring their baby’s health when they could not have normal access to their provider. At the center of this examination is how the pandemic affected app users of color and their birth outcomes. Presenters will share 6 months of app user survey results on race, birth outcomes, app usage, vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy.