Conference Paper2024Cited by 1

GorbhoKotha: a mHealth App for Maternal Support in Bangladesh Utilizing User-Centered Design Principles

Sarah Binte Mahbub, Nafis Islam, Mehedi Hasan Surem, Ayatullah Arefin, Md Rashid Shabab, Ashraful Islam

6th International Congress on Human-Computer Interaction, Optimization and Robotic Applications

IEEE, pp. 1-6

  • Good Health and Well-being — Relevance: 96%
  • Gender Equality — Relevance: 89%
  • Reduced Inequalities — Relevance: 64%
DOI: 10.1109/hora61326.2024.10550569URL

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, there is a growing need for accessible and user-friendly smartphone mobile health (mHealth) apps that can provide antenatal and postpartum care guidance in Bangladesh. However, many existing solutions are not user-friendly and lack the feasibility of receiving care when needed, particularly for women knowing only Bangla. To address these challenges, this work proposes "GorbhoKotha", a mHealth app prototype that is designed to provide accurate and reliable information during pregnancy and infant care in Bangladesh. The app features include a chatbot capable of responding to users’ inquiries, along with carefully selected articles on maintaining good health during pregnancy and caring for newborns. The app also includes services like searching for nearby pharmacies and hospitals, recommending diet and exercise, and emergency dialing for any situation. To guarantee the usability and inclusivity of the "GorbhoKotha" app, we have included concepts of User-Centered Design (UCD) in our design process. Utilizing the UCD approach, we prioritize the needs and preferences of our users to create a solution that is both effective and accessible. A user study with target stakeholders highlights diverse demands among participants for a pregnancy-related system, emphasizing features including hospital locators, emergency chatbots, bilingual support, dietary guidance, and health management information.

Keywords

  • postpartum care
  • chatbots
  • Maternal health
  • prenatal care
  • User-centered design
  • mobile health apps
  • infant care

CCDS Authors

Ashraful Islam, PhD
Ashraful Islam

Ashraful Islam, PhD

  • Center Director, CCDS
  • Director, HCI Wing

Assistant Professor

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)

Published at

CHI, UIST, UbiComp, IJCNN, ICIP, HCII, ICDMW, BLP, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, JMIR, JMIR Human Factors, JMIR Formative Research, IEEE Access, Smart Agricultural Technology, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, PLOS ONE

Research Interests

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

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Cited By

  1. 1.Sharifa Sultana, Hafsah Mahzabin Chowdhury, Zinnat Sultana, Nervo Verdezoto. (2025). 'Socheton': A Culturally Appropriate AI Tool to Support Reproductive Well-being. , 3098–3116[10.1145/3715336.3735725]
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