Table 1 Summary of the selected studies
NO | Authors | Country | Objective | Type of Study | Factors influencing the use of mhealth technology in post-abortion care | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luigi-Bravo et al. 2023 [19] | Canada | Sharing insights and lessons from implementing three mobile health interventions for self-managed abortion and reproductive healthcare | Qualitative (Literature review) | Motivating factors | Ethico-legal | Information security and confidentiality |
Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and methods of preventing re-pregnancy Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime | ||||||
Technical | Usability and comprehensiveness | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethico-legal | Legal and cultural barriers Stigma and discrimination | |||||
Individual | Patient’s low level of education Lack of mobile phone ownership by the patient | ||||||
Technical | Problems with the mobile network or the Internet in the deprived areas | ||||||
2 | Ngo et al. 2023 [40] | Vietnam | Assessing the impact of a mHealth app, specifically the iConnect app, on improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to safe abortion among female sex workers (FSWs) in Hanoi Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the mHealth intervention in addressing the high risk of unsafe abortions | Quantitative (Pre- post test) | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and methods of preventing re-pregnancy Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime |
Technical | Ease of receiving information via mobile phones | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Individual | Patient’s low level of education | |||||
Technical | Usability issues and scattered information Problems with the mobile network or the Internet in the deprived areas | ||||||
3 | Luigi-Bravo et al. 2022 [39] | Venezuela | Explore the potential role of mHealth in the context of abortion, specifically focusing on self-managed medical abortion in a complex humanitarian emergency | Qualitative (Literature review) | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and prevention of re-pregnancy Receiving emotional and informational support from the professional staff |
Inhibiting factors | Ethico-legal | Legal and sociopolitical constraints | |||||
Individual | Receiving inadequate emotional support | ||||||
Technical | Usability issues and scattered information Problems with the mobile network or the Internet in the deprived areas | ||||||
Economic | Inappropriate patient financial status | ||||||
4 | Sudhinarase et al. 2022 [38] | Kenya | Investigating the impact of a person-centered abortion care mobile intervention, delivered by either peer counselors or nurses through mobile phones, on mental health, social support, and abortion-related stigma among Kenyan women post-abortion in private clinics Comparing outcomes with standard care emphasizes the growing role of mHealth in addressing sensitive healthcare issues in restrictive settings | Quantitative (randomized controlled trial) | Motivating factors | Ethico-legal | Information security and confidentiality |
Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and methods of preventing re-pregnancy Interactive communication with the professional staff Receiving emotional and informational support from the professional staff Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethico-legal | Legal and Cultural barriers | |||||
Individual | Receiving inadequate emotional support | ||||||
5 | Shaikh et al. 2021 [41] | Pakistan | Evaluate the implementation of a hybrid telemedicine-community accompaniment model for sexual and reproductive health services, with a focus on abortion and contraception | Quantitative (survey) | Motivating factors | Ethico-legal | Information security and confidentiality |
Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and methods of preventing re-pregnancy Interactive communication with the professional staff Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Individual | Challenges with communication via the app Fear of talking about abortion | |||||
Technical | Problems with the mobile network or the Internet in the deprived areas | ||||||
6 | Aung et al. 2020 [42] | Myanmar | Evaluating the effectiveness of mhealth interventions for preventing re-pregnancy Identifying mhealth features and behavior change communication components used in the interventions | Qualitative (Systematic review) | Motivating factors | Ethico-legal | Information security and confidentiality |
Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and methods of preventing re-pregnancy Interactive communication with the professional staff Receiving emotional and informational support from the professional staff Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime Mobile phone ownership Saving time | ||||||
Economic | Saving costs | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethico-legal | Concerns over information security and confidentiality | |||||
Individual | Concerns over incorrect and invalid information Lack of mobile phone ownership by the patient | ||||||
7 | Hill et al. 2020 [46] | Cambodia | Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of mobile phone-based support for post-abortion family planning in Cambodia | Quantitative (cost-effectiveness analysis) | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving unique support for each patient Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime |
Economic | Saving costs Inexpensive health care services compared to the face-to-face visits | ||||||
8 | Ireland et al. 2020 [47] | Australia | Exploring and better understanding of women’s access to teleabortion in rural areas of Australia | Qualitative (structured interview) | Motivating factors | Individual | Interactive communication with the professional staff Feeling of not being judged Feeling of comfort when communicating via the Internet Saving time |
Economic | Inexpensive and cost-effective services | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Individual | Patient’s low level of education Lack of self-confidence Fear of talking about abortion | |||||
9 | Biswas et al. 2020 [17] | Bangladesh | Assessing the feasibility and acceptance of SMS-based m-health interventions in post-abortion pregnancy prevention in Bangladesh | Randomized controlled trial | Motivating factors | Individual | Patient’s high level of education |
Economic | Patient financial status | ||||||
Technical | Multilingual support Readability of messages Setting time for receiving messages | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Individual | Patient’s low level of education Lack of mobile phone ownership by the patient | |||||
Economic | Inappropriate patient financial status | ||||||
10 | Gill et al. 2019 [30] | Canada | Examining how women use mobile phones to access health care information and their preferences for the content and design of mhealth interventions | Mixed- methods study (quantitative–qualitative) | Motivating factors | Ethico-legal | Information security and confidentiality |
Individual | No feeling of embarrassment when expressing abortion Receiving emotional and informational support from the professional staff Withdrawing the intervention whenever they want | ||||||
Technical | Ease of receiving information via mobile phones Ease of using mobile phones Usability and comprehensiveness | ||||||
Economic | Saving cost | ||||||
11 | Gill et al. 2019 [35] | Canada | Assessing the usability of a website intervention to determine its usability and appropriateness | Quantitative | Motivating factors | Ethico-legal | Registering on the websites and passing identity check |
Individual | Access to up-to-date and comprehensive information about all types of abortion | ||||||
Technical | Usability Understandable terminology Usability of the websites | ||||||
Economic | Comparing costs for different types of services | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethical-legal | Concerns over lack of privacy Unavailability of the website to the public | |||||
Individual | Receiving inadequate emotional support | ||||||
Technical | Usability issues and scattered information | ||||||
12 | Smith et al. 2017 [45] | Cambodia | Evaluating patients' interaction with the interventions of Mobile Technology for Improved Family Planning (MOTIF) from the service provider's perspective | Quantitative | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and prevention of re-pregnancy Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime |
Inhibiting factors | Individual | Patient’s low level of education Lack of time to use mhealth technology Lack of mobile phone ownership by the patient | |||||
Technical | Problems with the mobile network or the Internet in the deprived areas | ||||||
Economic | Inappropriate patient financial status | ||||||
13 | Smith et al., 2017 [43] | Cambodia | Examining the views and experiences of women participating in the interventions provided through Mobile Technology for Improved Family Planning, | Qualitative | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and prevention of re-pregnancy Receiving emotional and informational support from the professional staff Saving time Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime |
Technical | Ease of receiving information via mobile phones | ||||||
Economic | Saving costs | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethico-legal | Concerns over lack of privacy | |||||
Technical | Inappropriate number and time of receiving messages via mobile phone | ||||||
14 | Smith et al. 2016 [20] | Cambodia | Providing an overview of the formative research process used in a mobile phone intervention for post-abortion re-pregnancy prevention | Mixed-methods study | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and prevention of re-pregnancy Patient’s high level of education Saving time |
Technical | Ease of receiving information via mobile phones | ||||||
Economic | Saving costs Patient financial status | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethical-legal | Concerns over lack of privacy | |||||
Individual | Lack of mobile phone ownership by the patient | ||||||
Technical | Lack of multilingual support | ||||||
15 | Smith et al. 2015 [44] | Cambodia | Evaluating the effectiveness of a mobile phone-based intervention in preventing pregnancy after abortion in Cambodia | Quantitative (randomized trial) | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving unique support for each patient Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime |
Technical | Ease of receiving information via mobile phones | ||||||
Economic | Inexpensive and cost-effective services compared to the face-to-face visits | ||||||
16 | De Tolly et al. 2014 [48] | South Africa | Assessing the feasibility and efficiency of information and follow-up provided by mobile phone after medical abortion | Quantitative (randomized controlled trial) | Motivating factors | Individual | Receiving information about the complications of abortion and prevention of re-pregnancy Receiving emotional and informational support from the professional staff Ease of access to care from anywhere at anytime |
Technical | Ease of receiving information via SMS Customizing programs Multilingual support | ||||||
Inhibiting factors | Ethico-legal | Concerns over lack of privacy | |||||
Individual | Concerns over incorrect and invalid information Lack of mobile phone ownership by the patient Remembering difficulties of abortion | ||||||
Technical | Problems with the mobile network or the Internet Receiving duplicate information | ||||||