Preliminary design of a culturally tailored AI-integrated mhealth app for gestational diabetes and excessive weight management in bangladesh

Faiza Omar Arpita; Istiaq Ahmed; Ashraful Islam; Ashfaqul Islam; Asif Mahmud; M Ashraful Amin

doi:10.1109/scored68498.2025.11399175

Conference Paper2025Cited by 1

Preliminary design of a culturally tailored AI-integrated mhealth app for gestational diabetes and excessive weight management in bangladesh

Faiza Omar Arpita, Istiaq Ahmed, Ashraful Islam, Ashfaqul Islam, Asif Mahmud, M Ashraful Amin

2025 IEEE 23rd Student Conference on Research and Development (SCOReD)

In: 2025 IEEE 23rd Student Conference on Research and Development (SCOReD)

IEEE, pp. 1-6

DOI: 10.1109/scored68498.2025.11399175 URL

Abstract

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain (EGWG) pose significant health risks to mothers and children in Bangladesh. Although mobile health (mHealth) apps offer a promising avenue for managing these conditions, generic solutions often fail due to a lack of cultural and contextual adaptation. This study presents a user-centred approach to define the essential features of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-integrated mHealth app specifically for Bangladeshi women. We conducted a mixed-methods study, beginning with a survey of 15 pregnant or postpartum women to understand their digital literacy, health information behaviours, and needs. Following this, we conducted a focus group discussion to deepen their understanding of their experiences and expectations. Using the six-phase thematic analysis framework by Braun and Clarke, we analyzed qualitative data to identify core user requirements. Our analysis revealed five key themes: (1) accessibility and usability, (2) cultural and contextual relevance, (3) core health management features, (4) trust, privacy, and security, and (5) social and community support. These findings form the basis of a conceptual model and corresponding low-fidelity prototypes for a culturally-attuned, accessible, and trustworthy mHealth app. This research provides actionable insights for developing solutions that are not only clinically effective but also resonate with the lived realities of users in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Bangladesh.

Keywords

mHealthGestational diabetesThematic analysisFocus groupDigital healthQualitative researchConceptual frameworkSelf-managementWeight management

CCDS Authors

Ashraful Islam, PhD

Center Director, CCDS
Director, HCI Wing

Assistant Professor

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)

Research Interests

Human-Computer Interaction, AI for Social Good, AI for Public Health, AI for Impact

References

1.(2021). 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022. Diabetes Care, 45(Supplement_1), S17–S38[10.2337/dc22-s002]
2.Rebecca Schnall, Marlene Rojas, Suzanne Bakken, William Brown, Alex Carballo-Dieguez, Monique Carry, Deborah Gelaude, Jocelyn Patterson Mosley, Jasmine Travers. (2016). A user-centered model for designing consumer mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps). Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 60, 243–251[10.1016/j.jbi.2016.02.002]
3.Michelle A. Kominiarek, Alan M. Peaceman. (2017). Gestational weight gain. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 217(6), 642–651[10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.040]
4.Tapas Mazumder, Ema Akter, Syed Moshfiqur Rahman, Md. Tauhidul Islam, Mohammad Radwanur Talukder. (2022). Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Bangladesh: Findings from Demographic Health Survey 2017–2018. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2583[10.3390/ijerph19052583]
5.Qianyue Xu, Zhijuan Ge, Yan Bi, Jun Hu, Shanmei Shen, Dalong Zhu. (2019). The Association of Gestational Weight Gain and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Endocrine Practice, 25(11), 1137–1150[10.4158/ep-2019-0011]
6.Dorota Ćwiek, Anna Lubkowska, Małgorzata Zimny, Katarzyna Szymoniak, Olimpia Sipak-Szmigiel. (2022). Weight Gain during and after Pregnancy in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus―A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11959[10.3390/ijerph191911959]
7.Faria Afsana, Bishwajit Bhowmik, Tasnima Siddiquee, Tareen Ahmed, Faruque Md Pathan, Tofail Ahmed, Mohammad Abdus Samad, Mohammad Farid Uddin, Shahjada Selim, Nayla Cristina do Vale Moreira, Purobi Rani Debnath, Kaiser Aalm Choudhury, Abdul Alim, Mohammad Robed Amin, Hajera Mahtab, Akhtar Hussain, A. K. Azad Khan. (2021). Current Practices in Diagnosis and Management of Gestational Diabetes. Journal of Diabetology, 12(Suppl 1), S79–S85[10.4103/jod.jod_14_21]
8.Ashraful Islam, Eshtiak Ahmed, Md Rakibul Islam. (2023). Early Stage Design of a mHealth Intervention for Managing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Bangladeshi Women. Communications in computer and information science, 380–388[10.1007/978-3-031-49212-9_47]
9.Tunisha Yanoor Bristy, Mohammad Arshad Hossain Ratul, Noorjahan Sayeed, Tasnuba Badrul, Ashraful Islam. (2024). Preliminary Design Validation of a mHealth Tool for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Management and Education in Bangladeshi Women. , 1–8[10.1109/aset60340.2024.10708707]
10.Istiaq Ahmed, Syed Niaz Mohtasim, Faiza Omar Arpita, Ashraful Islam, M. Ashraful Amin. (2024). A Conceptual Design Framework of GorbhoShongi App for Mental Well-Being Among Bangladeshi Pregnant and Postpartum Women. Communications in computer and information science, 3–13[10.1007/978-3-031-78561-0_1]
11.A. Islam, E. Ahmed, M. Zaman, F. Hasan, M.R. Islam, M.A. Amin. (2024). IDF23-0442 Assessing Early Stage Design of a mHealth App for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Management in Bangladeshi Women. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 209, 111502[10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111502]
12.Stephanie Veazie, Kara Winchell, Jennifer Gilbert, Robin Paynter, Ilya Ivlev, Karen Eden, Kerri Nussbaum, Nicole Weiskopf, Jeanne-Marie Guise, Mark Helfand. (2018). Mobile Health Applications for Self-Management of Diabetes. [10.23970/ahrqepctb31]

Cited By

1.Faiza Omar Arpita, Istiaq Ahmed, Joye Banik, Ashraful Islam, M. Ashraful Amin. (2026). Co-Designing a Culturally Tailored mHealth App for Gestational Diabetes and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Management in Bangladesh. Lecture notes in computer science, 28–48[10.1007/978-3-032-30549-7_2]

← All publications

Abstract

References

1.(2021). 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022. Diabetes Care, 45(Supplement_1), S17–S38[10.2337/dc22-s002]

2.Rebecca Schnall, Marlene Rojas, Suzanne Bakken, William Brown, Alex Carballo-Dieguez, Monique Carry, Deborah Gelaude, Jocelyn Patterson Mosley, Jasmine Travers. (2016). A user-centered model for designing consumer mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps). Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 60, 243–251[10.1016/j.jbi.2016.02.002]

3.Michelle A. Kominiarek, Alan M. Peaceman. (2017). Gestational weight gain. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 217(6), 642–651[10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.040]

4.Tapas Mazumder, Ema Akter, Syed Moshfiqur Rahman, Md. Tauhidul Islam, Mohammad Radwanur Talukder. (2022). Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Bangladesh: Findings from Demographic Health Survey 2017–2018. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2583[10.3390/ijerph19052583]

5.Qianyue Xu, Zhijuan Ge, Yan Bi, Jun Hu, Shanmei Shen, Dalong Zhu. (2019). The Association of Gestational Weight Gain and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Endocrine Practice, 25(11), 1137–1150[10.4158/ep-2019-0011]

6.Dorota Ćwiek, Anna Lubkowska, Małgorzata Zimny, Katarzyna Szymoniak, Olimpia Sipak-Szmigiel. (2022). Weight Gain during and after Pregnancy in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus―A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11959[10.3390/ijerph191911959]

7.Faria Afsana, Bishwajit Bhowmik, Tasnima Siddiquee, Tareen Ahmed, Faruque Md Pathan, Tofail Ahmed, Mohammad Abdus Samad, Mohammad Farid Uddin, Shahjada Selim, Nayla Cristina do Vale Moreira, Purobi Rani Debnath, Kaiser Aalm Choudhury, Abdul Alim, Mohammad Robed Amin, Hajera Mahtab, Akhtar Hussain, A. K. Azad Khan. (2021). Current Practices in Diagnosis and Management of Gestational Diabetes. Journal of Diabetology, 12(Suppl 1), S79–S85[10.4103/jod.jod_14_21]

8.Ashraful Islam, Eshtiak Ahmed, Md Rakibul Islam. (2023). Early Stage Design of a mHealth Intervention for Managing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Bangladeshi Women. Communications in computer and information science, 380–388[10.1007/978-3-031-49212-9_47]

9.Tunisha Yanoor Bristy, Mohammad Arshad Hossain Ratul, Noorjahan Sayeed, Tasnuba Badrul, Ashraful Islam. (2024). Preliminary Design Validation of a mHealth Tool for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Management and Education in Bangladeshi Women. , 1–8[10.1109/aset60340.2024.10708707]

10.Istiaq Ahmed, Syed Niaz Mohtasim, Faiza Omar Arpita, Ashraful Islam, M. Ashraful Amin. (2024). A Conceptual Design Framework of GorbhoShongi App for Mental Well-Being Among Bangladeshi Pregnant and Postpartum Women. Communications in computer and information science, 3–13[10.1007/978-3-031-78561-0_1]

11.A. Islam, E. Ahmed, M. Zaman, F. Hasan, M.R. Islam, M.A. Amin. (2024). IDF23-0442 Assessing Early Stage Design of a mHealth App for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Management in Bangladeshi Women. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 209, 111502[10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111502]

12.Stephanie Veazie, Kara Winchell, Jennifer Gilbert, Robin Paynter, Ilya Ivlev, Karen Eden, Kerri Nussbaum, Nicole Weiskopf, Jeanne-Marie Guise, Mark Helfand. (2018). Mobile Health Applications for Self-Management of Diabetes. [10.23970/ahrqepctb31]