Effectiveness of the i-PregMom scenario-based nutrition literacy mobile app for pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition literacy (NL) during pregnancy is critical for maternal and perinatal health. AIMS: To examine the effects of the scenario-based NL mobile application "i-PregMom" on pregnant women's NL and healthy eating behaviors. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 160 pregnant women recruited from three prenatal clinics in northern Taiwan between April 2025 and February 2026. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group or the control group via computer-generated block randomization (1:1). Data collectors and outcome assessors but not participants were blinded. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, 2 weeks later, and 12 weeks after completion of the intervention. Both groups received routine dietary education at 10-14 gestational weeks. The intervention group also had access to i-PregMom. Pregnancy-related NL was assessed using the 22-item, scenario-based Nutrition Literacy Scale, which comprises understanding, analysis, appraisal, and application domains (total score: 0-22). Healthy eating behavior was assessed using a validated 13-item scale (total score: 13-65). RESULTS: In the intervention and control groups, 74 and 75 participants, respectively, completed the 12-week follow-up. Baseline characteristics and scores did not differ between the groups. By the final follow-up, the intervention group had higher mean ± standard deviation NL (20.5 ± 1.6 vs. 18.2 ± 2.1; mean difference = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.67-2.88; p < .001; Cohen's d = 1.22) and healthier eating behavior (45.6 ± 7.0 vs. 42.2 ± 7.0; mean difference = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.22-5.73; p = .003; Cohen's d = 0.50). CONCLUSION: i-PregMom may serve as a useful adjunct to routine prenatal education by providing continuous, scenario-based support for nutrition-related decision-making and healthy eating. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06917703.