Empowering Health: Discovering community and stakeholder needs for integrated adolescent, maternal, and child health apps

Abstract

This study explores the needs of communities and stakeholders to support the development of an integrated digital health platform for adolescents, pregnant women, and mothers with toddlers. Using a sequential mixed-method explanatory design, quantitative data were collected from 296 women of reproductive age in Petungsewu Village, Malang, through structured questionnaires, followed by qualitative insights from 15 participants in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Results showed that 95.61% of respondents agreed to use electronic media to access information and record health services, highlighting the perceived benefits of improving health status. Sociodemographic factors such as education, marital status, and parity influenced media use and health service preferences. The FGDs reinforced the need for web-based, user-friendly, and validated applications that support information access, digital recording, community empowerment, and health worker involvement. The study's novelty resided in the integration of quantitative and qualitative evidence to co-design a health informatics system personalized to the specific needs of the life stage. These findings provide a practical basis for policymakers to support digital transformation in public health services by integrating these platforms into primary health care and strengthening the facilitation of health workers and digital literacy.