The Effect of Mobile App Counseling on Postpartum Contraception Choices and Use

NCT07251569 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2023/76
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 97
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of a mobile application developed for postpartum contraception counseling on contraception method choice and use among postpartum women aged 18 and older. The main hypotheses it aims to answer are;

• H1: Among postpartum women, the use of highly effective contraceptive methods is higher in the group using a mobile application for contraception counseling compared to the group receiving face-to-face counseling.
• H2: Among postpartum women, the use of highly effective contraceptive methods is higher in the group using a mobile application for contraception counseling compared to the group receiving routine postpartum care.
• H3: Contraceptive method continuation and satisfaction are higher in the group using a mobile application for postpartum contraception counseling compared to the group receiving face-to-face counseling.
• H4: Contraceptive method continuation and satisfaction are higher in the group using a mobile application for postpartum contraception counseling compared to the group receiving routine postpartum care. Researchers will compare three groups:
• Group receiving contraception counseling via mobile app: Women in this group will have a postpartum contraception counseling mobile application installed on their phones and will use the application for 12 weeks.
• Group receiving face-to-face contraception counseling: These women will receive face-to-face contraception counseling during the initial encounter, and an educational booklet will be provided at the end of the counseling session.
• Control group: Women in this group will receive routine postpartum care. All groups will be followed up at three time points: the initial encounter, the first follow-up, and the second follow-up.

Conditions

Contraception Use

Keywords

contraception; mobile application

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Choice of contraceptive method and its effectiveness level

  The chosen contraceptive method and its effectiveness were categorically assessed using a "Client Information Form" at the first visit, a "Contraceptive Information Form II" at the first follow-up, and a "Follow-up Form" at the second follow-up. All three forms were developed by the researchers based on the relevant literature. The effectiveness of the contraceptive methods was determined according to the World Health Organization's estimates of unintended pregnancy rates during the first year of typical use. Methods with unintended pregnancy rates of less than 10% in the first year of typical use were classified as highly effective, whereas methods with rates of 10% or higher were classified as less effective.

  First Encounter (in the first 5 days postpartum) First Follow-Up (in the 6th week postpartum) Second Follow-Up (in the 12th week postpartum)

• Level of satisfaction with the chosen contraceptive method

  Satisfaction with the chosen contraceptive method was measured numerically at the second follow-up using a question on the "Follow-up Form," scored from 1 to 10. A score of 1 means "I am not satisfied at all," and a score of 10 means "I am very satisfied." A higher score indicates higher satisfaction.

  Second Follow-Up (at the 12th postpartum week)

• Status of continuing the chosen contraceptive method

  Continuity with the chosen contraceptive method was measured categorically at the second follow-up using the "Follow-up Form" developed by the researchers based on literature.

  Second Follow-Up (at the 12th postpartum week)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Knowledge status regarding contraceptive methods

  First Encounter (in the first 5 days postpartum) First Follow-Up (in the 6th week postpartum) Second Follow-Up (in the 12th week postpartum)

• Mobile Application Evaluation Form Results

  Second Follow-Up (in the 12th week postpartum)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Assessment of Sociodemographic, Obstetric, and Gynecological Characteristics

  First Encounter (in the first 5 days postpartum)

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

OTHER

Participants received no intervention and only received routine hospital postpartum care.

Other: Routine postpartum care

Face-to-face counseling group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants received contraception counseling and an educational booklet.

Behavioral: Face-to-face contraception counseling

Mobile application counseling group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received contraceptive counseling through a mobile application developed as part of the study.

Behavioral: Contraceptive counseling via mobile application

Interventions

Routine postpartum care OTHER

First Encounter: During the first five days postpartum, the postpartum woman was asked to complete the "Client Information Form" and "Contraceptive Information Form I." No intervention was performed. Postpartum women in this group received routine postpartum care offered to postpartum women in the hospital. First Follow-up: The client was called by phone at the sixth week postpartum. Breastfeeding status and whether she had initiated sexual intercourse were questioned. The "Contraceptive Information Form II" was completed by the researcher after being asked the client over the phone. Second Follow-up: The client was called again at the twelfth week postpartum. The "Follow-up Form" was completed by the researcher after being asked the client over the phone. At the end of the second follow-up, a general contraception counseling video was sent to the postpartum woman.

Control Group

Face-to-face contraception counseling BEHAVIORAL

First Encounter: During the first five days postpartum, the postpartum woman was asked to complete the "Client Information Form" and the "Contraceptive Information Form I." Sexuality during the postpartum period and the importance of contraception were then explained. Counseling on reproductive organ anatomy and general contraception was provided face-to-face, along with a booklet prepared as part of the research. At the end of the counseling, the booklet was given to the postpartum woman. She was told that she could review the booklet as often as she wished or needed. First Follow-Up: The client was contacted by phone at the sixth week postpartum. She was asked about her breastfeeding status and whether she had initiated sexual intercourse. The "Contraceptive Information Form II" was completed by the researcher over the phone. Second Follow-Up: The client was contacted again at the twelfth week postpartum. The "Follow-Up Form" was completed by the researcher over the phone.

Face-to-face counseling group

Contraceptive counseling via mobile application BEHAVIORAL

First Encounter: During the first five days postpartum, the postpartum woman was asked to complete the "Client Information Form" and "Contraceptive Information Form I." Information was provided about the importance of sexuality and contraception during the postpartum period. A postpartum contraception counseling mobile application was installed. The postpartum woman was asked to use the mobile application throughout the research period. First Follow-Up: The client was contacted by phone at the sixth week postpartum. She was asked about her mobile application use, breastfeeding status, and sexual intercourse status. The "Contraceptive Information Form II" was completed by phone. She was instructed to continue using the mobile application. Second Follow-Up: The client was contacted again at the twelfth week postpartum. She was asked about her mobile application use. The "Follow-Up Form" and "Mobile Application Evaluation Form" were completed by phone.

Mobile application counseling group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Being 18 years of age or older
• Being within the first 5 days postpartum
• Having a healthy newborn
• Not having received fertility treatment for the last pregnancy
• Not having undergone tubal ligation during delivery
• Owning a smartphone
• Being able to use a mobile application
• Having internet access
• Being able to speak, read, and write in Turkish

You may not qualify if:

• Having previously received contraceptive counseling
• Discontinuing the use of the mobile application
• Not participating in follow-up visits
• Not volunteering to participate in the study
• Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Burcu Dişli Oktar: lead

Study Sites (1)

Esenler Maternity and Child Diseases Hospital

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Berrami H, Serhier Z, Jallal M, Bennani Othmani M. Mobile Applications for Family Planning. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2023 Oct 20;309:300-301. doi: 10.3233/SHTI230803.

  PMID: 37869864 BACKGROUND

• Sze YY, Berendes S, Russel S, Bellam L, Smith C, Cameron S, Free CJ. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of the effects of digital health interventions on postpartum contraception use. BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2023 Jan;49(1):50-59. doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2022-201468. Epub 2022 Oct 28.

  PMID: 36307185 RESULT

• Cherie N, Wordofa MA, Debelew GT. Effectiveness of an Interactive Mobile Health Intervention (IMHI) to enhance the adoption of modern contraceptive methods during the early postpartum period among women in Northeast Ethiopia: A cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). PLoS One. 2024 Nov 14;19(11):e0310124. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310124. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 39541340 RESULT

• Dev R, Woods NF, Unger JA, Kinuthia J, Matemo D, Farid S, Begnel ER, Kohler P, Drake AL. Acceptability, feasibility and utility of a Mobile health family planning decision aid for postpartum women in Kenya. Reprod Health. 2019 Jul 8;16(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s12978-019-0767-9.

  PMID: 31286989 RESULT

• Sonalkar S, Maya E, Adanu R, Samba A, Mumuni K, McAllister A, Fishman J, Schurr D, Schreiber CA, Kolev S, Doe R, Eluned Gaffield M. Pilot monitoring and evaluation of the WHO postpartum family planning compendium mobile application: An in-depth, qualitative study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2021 Jun;153(3):508-513. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.13631. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

  PMID: 33513267 RESULT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant, PhD Student, RN, MSc

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 19, 2025
• First Posted: November 26, 2025
• Study Start: January 22, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 27, 2025
• Study Completion: August 27, 2025
• Last Updated: November 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)