Do Digital Tools Really Help?

An online pregnancy support program showed no added advantage over standard digital care in reducing STI risk or substance use.

A web-based program designed to help pregnant women reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and substance use offered a private and convenient way to support healthy behaviors, but it did not produce better outcomes than a matched control program, according to findings published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
A Web-Based Intervention for Reducing Sexually Transmitted Infections and Substance Use During Pregnancy: Randomized Controlled Trial

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What are Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy can affect both maternal and infant health if left untreated. Common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV, making timely screening, prevention, and treatment an important part of prenatal care.

Alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use during pregnancy can also affect maternal and fetal health, making early support and healthy lifestyle choices an important part of prenatal care.

The trial included 176 pregnant women who were considered at risk for alcohol or drug use or sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy.

Participants were randomly assigned to either the automated Health Check-Up for Expectant Moms (HCEM) program or a control program delivered through the same online platform.

Key findings included:

• Both groups reduced alcohol use during pregnancy.
• Both groups also reduced cannabis use over time.
• The HCEM program did not outperform the control program.
• There was no meaningful difference in reducing condomless sex between the two groups.
• Cannabis was the most commonly reported substance at the beginning of the trial.

Pregnancy and Substance Use Changes During Pregnancy

Pregnancy often becomes a time when many women naturally rethink everyday habits and health choices. The findings suggest that some positive behavior changes may begin after pregnancy is recognized, even without a specialized digital program.

These findings suggest that pregnancy itself may encourage healthier decisions for some women, making it difficult to detect additional benefits from brief interventions among lower-risk groups.

Web-Based Intervention for Pregnancy Health Support

The Health Check-Up for Expectant Moms (HCEM) is a fully automated program based on motivational interviewing principles. It was designed to help pregnant women make healthier decisions through a private and convenient digital platform.

Potential advantages of this approach include:

• Easy access from home or any private location.
• No need for an in-person counseling session.
• Consistent delivery of health information.
• Greater privacy when discussing sensitive topics.

Someone waiting for a prenatal appointment or staying at home could complete the program whenever it suited their schedule.

Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention During Pregnancy

The program also encouraged safer sexual practices during pregnancy. However, the results showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in reducing condomless sex.

This finding reflects the fact that health behaviors are often influenced by several factors, including personal motivation and life circumstances. A single digital session may not be enough for everyone, particularly when healthy changes have already begun.

Digital Pregnancy Care May Still Have a Role

Although the intervention did not outperform the control condition, the investigators highlighted several practical strengths of technology-delivered care.

These include:

• Greater convenience.
• Improved privacy.
• Easier access to behavioral health support.
• The ability to complement routine prenatal care.

As Golfo Tzilos Wernette and colleagues noted, “There are many potential benefits of a technology-delivered approach to support the behavioral health of pregnant women in a private and convenient way.”

A pregnant woman who feels uncomfortable discussing sensitive concerns during a clinic visit may find it easier to explore those topics through a secure online program.

Pregnancy Health Decisions Benefit From Continued Support

The findings also suggest that digital interventions may be more relevant when matched to the needs of women who continue to face higher levels of risk related to alcohol or drug use during pregnancy.

These findings suggest that personalized digital support may become a useful addition to prenatal care when offered to the people most likely to benefit.

If you are pregnant and have concerns about substance use or sexual health, speak openly with your healthcare provider to explore the support that best fits your needs.

Reference:

1. A Web-Based Intervention for Reducing Sexually Transmitted Infections and Substance Use During Pregnancy: Randomized Controlled Trial – (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42418232/)

Source-Medindia