Social media messaging in pregnancy: comparing content of Text4baby to content of free smart phone applications of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Text4baby is the only free text-message program for pregnancy available. Our objective was to determine whether content differed between Text4baby and popular pregnancy smart phone applications (apps).


METHODS
Researchers enrolled in Text4baby in 2012 and downloaded the four most-popular free pregnancy smart phone apps in July 2013; content was re-extracted in February 2014. Messages were assigned thematic codes. Two researchers coded messages independently before reviewing all the codes jointly to ensure consistency. Logistic regression modeling determined statistical differences between Text4baby and smart phone apps.


RESULTS
About 1399 messages were delivered. Of these, 333 messages had content related to more than one theme and were coded as such, resulting in 1820 codes analyzed. Compared to smart phone apps, Text4baby was significantly more likely to have content regarding Postpartum Planning, Seeking Care, Recruitment and Prevention and significantly less likely to mention Normal Pregnancy Symptoms. No messaging program included content regarding postpartum contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
To improve content without increasing text message number, Text4baby could replace messages on recruitment with messages regarding normal pregnancy symptoms, fetal development and postpartum contraception.
a Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences and.
Adam K
AK
Lewkowitz
b Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA.
Betsy E
BE
O'Donnell
a Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences and.
Sanae
S
Nakagawa
b Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA.
Juan E
JE
Vargas
b Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA.
Marya G
MG
Zlatnik
D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D000068997:Smartphone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Pregnancy; Text4baby; prenatal care; short messaging service; smart phone applications; social media