Effects of Smartphone Addiction to Fetal Parameters in Pregnancy

NCT07271680 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Antalya City/ Anatolian Hospit
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 128
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This prospective cohort study investigates the relationship between smartphone addiction and fetal health parameters at the third trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women will be evaluated for smartphone addiction, and fetal heart rate, uterine artery blood flow indices (Resistive Index, Systolic/Diastolic ratio), and birth weight will be measured. The hypothesis is that smartphone addiction may negatively affect fetal outcomes, leading to higher fetal heart rate, impaired uterine artery blood flow, and lower birth weight. Although no direct studies have examined smartphone addiction and these fetal parameters together, related evidence suggests possible adverse effects of mobile phone exposure on oxidative stress, infant birth weight, fetal heart rate variability, and anthropometric measures. This study is among the first to specifically link smartphone addiction with maternal-fetal outcomes, offering new insights into environmental risk factors during late pregnancy. The findings aim to provide healthcare professionals with evidence based guidance for counseling pregnant women on safe smartphone use to protect maternal and fetal health.

Conditions

Pregnancy; Smart Phone Addiction

Keywords

pregnancy; uterine blood flow; fetal heart rate; birth weight; smart phone addiction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Fetal Heart Rate Measurement

  Fetal heart rate will be measured using ultrasound. Measurements will be performed by an experienced obstetrician and gynecologist in accordance with standard protocols.

  At baseline visit (single ultrasound assessment on the day of enrollment)

• Resistance Index Measurement

  RI will be checked and noted. obtained data will be compared with reference data for the given gestational age, and uterine blood flow will be coded as 0 for decreased and 1 for normal.

  At baseline visit (single Doppler assessment on the day of enrollment)

• Systolic/ Diastolic Ratio Measurement

  S/D ratio will be checked and noted. The obtained data will be compared with reference data for the given gestational age, and uterine blood flow will be coded as 0 for decreased and 1 for normal.

  At baseline visit (single Doppler assessment on the day of enrollment)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Birth weight measurement

  At delivery (from enrollment until birth, assessed once at the time of delivery, up to approximately 12 weeks after enrollment)

Study Arms (2)

Pregnant women with smartphone addiction

According to Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) pregnant women with a score of 33 or higher (accepted as addicted to their smartphones according to the scale).

Pregnant women without smartphone addiction

According to SAS-SV pregnant women with a score of 32 or lower (accepted as not addicted to their smartphones according to the scale).

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of pregnant women in their third trimester (34-36 weeks of gestation) who present to Obstetric Clinics for routine antenatal follow-up. Eligible participants are biological females, aged 18-40 years, with singleton pregnancies, smartphone users, and without chronic systemic disease, fetal anomalies, or other exclusion criteria.

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of singleton pregnancy
• Must be in the third trimester of pregnancy (confirmed by ultrasound)
• Must agree to participate voluntarily in the study and signing the informed consent form
• Must own a smartphone

You may not qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of multiple pregnancy
• History of miscarriage in previous pregnancies (3 or more)
• Clinical diagnosis of chronic systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease)
• Clinical diagnosis of fetal anomaly in the fetus
• Drug or substance addiction
• Clinical diagnosis of serious psychiatric disorder
• Cigarette smoker

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Antalya Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (2)

Ministry of Health Antalya City Hospital

Antalya, 07080, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Antalya Anatolia Hospital

Antalya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Kwon M, Kim DJ, Cho H, Yang S. The smartphone addiction scale: development and validation of a short version for adolescents. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 31;8(12):e83558. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083558. eCollection 2013.

  PMID: 24391787 BACKGROUND

• Lu X, Oda M, Ohba T, Mitsubuchi H, Masuda S, Katoh T. Association of excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy with birth weight: an adjunct study in Kumamoto of Japan Environment and Children's Study. Environ Health Prev Med. 2017 Jun 8;22(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s12199-017-0656-1.

  PMID: 29165149 BACKGROUND

• Özen G, Kahvecioğlu D, Bulut İ, Erel Ö, Neşelioğlu S, Üstün Y, Taşar MA. Effect of Mobile Phone Usage During Pregnancy on Total Oxidant and Antioxidant Levels in Cord Blood. J Behcet Uz Child Hosp 2023;13(3):177-184.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Birth Weight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Selkin Yilmaz Muluk, MD

  Ministry of Health Antalya City Hospital

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 4, 2025
• First Posted: December 9, 2025
• Study Start: August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2025
• Study Completion: December 15, 2025
• Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: 5 years
• Access Criteria: De-identified individual participant data will be made available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound and ethically approved research proposal. Data will be shared via a secure, designated platform, and a data use agreement will be required to ensure compliance with privacy and ethical standards.

Locations

TU (2)