Abstract
Background
Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with increased risks of neonatal morbidity, developmental delays, and long-term health problems. Although baby massages have been shown to improve growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in LBW infants, access to suitable training and adherence to massage protocols remain challenging, particularly in low-resource settings. Mobile health interventions may help address these gaps by providing scalable and standardized education on infant massage.
Objective
This study aimed to design and evaluate a human-centered baby massage mobile app to support the growth and development of LBW infants in Indonesia.
Methods
A human-centered iterative design approach was used to develop the mobile app. Usability was assessed using the System Usability Scale among 42 caregivers of LBW infants. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed thematically to understand user experience. A pilot pre-post intervention study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the app on caregivers’ knowledge, confidence, adherence to baby massage practices, and infant growth outcomes. Pre- and postintervention measures were compared.
Results
The app demonstrated high usability, with a mean System Usability Scale score of 78.6 (SD 8.2), indicating good usability (≥68). Most participants rated the app as “excellent” or “good.” Qualitative findings highlighted improved caregiver confidence and ease of learning massage techniques. Statistically significant improvements were observed in caregiver knowledge (mean difference 20.5 points; P=.002), confidence (21.6 points; P=.001), and adherence to recommended massage practices (20.3 points; P=.02). Infant outcomes also improved, including weight gain (mean increase 330 g; P=.003) and head circumference (mean increase 1.3 cm; P=.004).
Conclusions
The human-centered baby massage mobile app showed promising feasibility and effectiveness in improving caregiver knowledge, confidence, and adherence to infant massage practices. The app provides a culturally appropriate and user-friendly tool to support early interventions for LBW infants in resource-limited settings.