Analysis of online antenatal education class use via a mobile terminal app during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To understand the use of online antenatal education classes accessed via the Mother and Child Health Handbook app during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide a basis and suggestions for optimizing Internet education during pregnancy under public health emergencies. METHODS: We compared and analyzed the use of online antenatal education classes via the Mother and Child Health Handbook app in Hangzhou in 2019 and 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). RESULTS: Between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, a total of 229,794 pregnant women created files and registered for the app, including 124,273 women in 2019 and 105,521 women in 2020. More pregnant women participated in online antenatal education learning (n = 36,379/34.5% vs. 29,226/23.5%, p = 0.000) in 2020 than in 2019. The proportion of pregnant women in the 18-34-year-old group who participated in online learning was higher than that in the advanced age group, and the difference was statistically significant (2019 24.3% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.000) (2020 35.7% vs. 27.4%, p = 0.000). More pregnant women accessed online antenatal education during early pregnancy (n = 13,463/37.0% vs. 9088/31.1%, p = 0.000) in 2020 than in 2019. Similar percentages of pregnant women participated in online antenatal education during mid-pregnancy (n = 15,426/52.8% vs. 19,269/53.0%, p = 0.639) in 2019 and 2020. Fewer pregnant women accessed online antenatal education during late pregnancy (n = 10,246/28.2% vs. 9476/32.4%, p = 0.000) in 2020 than in 2019. Fewer pregnant women choose to take 'Puerperal Health' courses in 2020 than in 2019 (early pregnancy 36.20% vs. 42.79%, p = 0.000; mid-pregnancy 41.65% vs. 48.19%, p = 0.000; late pregnancy 55.31% vs. 58.41%, p = 0.000). Fewer pregnant women choose to take 'Psychological Adjustment' courses in 2020 than in 2019 (early pregnancy 21.59% vs. 29.60%, p = 0.000; mid-pregnancy 26.20% vs. 40.50%, p = 0.000; late pregnancy 12.79% vs. 42.53%, p = 0.000). More pregnant women choose to study 'Nutrition and Exercise' in 2020 than in 2019 (early pregnancy 44.48% vs. 25.95%, p = 0.000; mid-pregnancy 47.77% vs. 40.75%, p = 0.000; late pregnancy 55.94% vs. 42.99%, p = 0.000). "Pregnancy Care and Fetal Development" was the most selected course by pregnant women in early pregnancy (2019 67.50%; 2020 71.39%) and middle pregnancy (2019 67.01%; 2020 82.05%), and the proportion in 2020 was higher than it was in 2019. "Baby care" was the most selected course by pregnant women in late pregnancy, and the proportion in 2020 was higher than it was in 2019 (78.31% vs. 72.85%). CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, online antenatal education was well-used by pregnant women. More women participated in the online antenatal education modules during the COVID-19 pandemic than during 2019.The proportion of choosing different courses for pregnant women before and after the COVID-19 epidemic varied, and the learning course needs of pregnant women in different trimesters were different.