# Towards the Developing and Designing of an Intervention to Promote Prenatal Physical Activity Using MomConnect (mHealth): A Formative Protocol

## TL;DR

This paper outlines a plan to develop text messages promoting prenatal physical activity through South Africa's MomConnect mHealth platform.

## Contribution

The study proposes a user-centered design protocol to create tailored SMS content for prenatal physical activity within the MomConnect system.

## Key findings

- A three-phase user-centered design approach will be used to develop SMS content for prenatal physical activity.
- Preferred SMS content and quantity will be determined through interviews and surveys with pregnant women and healthcare providers.
- The intervention aims to improve prenatal physical activity participation in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province.

## Abstract

Background and aim: The use of mHealth, especially short-message text (SMS), has proven to be an effective intervention in promoting behavioral health outcomes in populations across different contexts and settings. While MomConnect, an mHealth technological device designed to enhance maternal and child health services in South Africa, offers various health-related contents aimed at improving maternal outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women, it currently lacks information on prenatal physical activity. However, physical activity and exercise during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for both the mother and the baby. This article outlines the protocol for designing and developing a prenatal physical activity and exercise text messaging content for the MomConnect device. To achieve this, the protocol aims to elucidate the preferences of prenatal physical activity and exercise text messages and ascertain the preferred amount of SMS messaging to inform the design of an intervention for the incorporation of prenatal physical activity and exercise text messages into the MomConnect device in South Africa. Methods: We will apply a user-centred design approach conducted in three phases. First, a scoping literature review and interviews with pregnant women will be conducted to inform the formative stage for developing a desirable prototype SMS. Secondly, healthcare providers and pregnant women will be interviewed to collate data on the preferred SMS. Lastly, a cross-sectional survey will be conducted to determine the preferred quantity of SMS messaging to be incorporated in the MomConnect device. Expected outcomes: A preferred or desirable prenatal physical activity and exercise SMS text message will inform the design of SMS text messages to be incorporated into the content of the MomConnect device to promote prenatal physical activity and exercise participation among women in the Eastern Cape Province. This study will develop a tailored mHealth intervention to improve prenatal physical activity participation and health behaviors among pregnant women in South Africa.