A Qualitative Study on Pregnant Women’s Perceptions and Needs for Developing a WeChat Mini-Program for Physical Activity Management During Pregnancy

Purpose Physical activity is crucial for the health of both the mother and the baby, but it is often underutilized due to safety concerns, insufficient guidance, and the lack of user-friendly platforms. This study explored pregnant women’s perceptions and needs regarding mobile health platforms for physical activity management to guide the development of a needs-oriented intelligent management platform. Patients and Methods A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 37 pregnant women recruited from the obstetric outpatient department. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using content analysis. This study was reported following SRQR guidelines. Results Four key themes emerged: physical and mental changes during pregnancy, perceptions and concerns about exercise, needs for exercise guidance, and requirements for mobile health platforms. Conclusion Pregnant women are receptive to mobile health platforms for physical activity management. Developers and healthcare providers should focus on meeting their actual needs through a comprehensive, safe, and personalized tool to support physical activity during pregnancy.