Singapore's New App Promotes ParentalInfant Well being During COVID 19

Mobile Application Boosts Emotional Well-being and Development for Parents and Infants

Singapore, January 3rd, 2024 - The arrival of a newborn is an overwhelming joyous moment for many families; however, transitioning into parenthood often brings challenges, including stress due to increased responsibilities, sleep deprivation, as well as lack of support and concerns about infant health. An innovative mobile application developed by the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore NUS Nursing, alleviate these issues.

The Supportive Parenting Application SPA offers valuable information tlored to local parents through a variety of formats including videos, podcasts, and written articles created by experts such as obstetricians, psychiatrists, nurses, and midwives from institutions like NUS Nursing, NUS Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Polyclinics, KK Women’s and Children's Hospital, and Singapore General Hospital. The resources cover parenting tips on tasks like baby bathing, establishing a bond with the newborn, breastfeeding techniques, as well as strategies to cope with psychological and emotional challenges post-birth. The application also fosters community through its discussion forum where parents can share personal questions and receive support from other parents facing similar issues.

Associate Professor Shefaly Shorey of NUS Nursing led a study that evaluated the effectiveness of SPA over three years amidst the COVID-19 pandemic among 200 expectant mothers, their partners aged between 26 to 41 years old. Their findings revealed that both fathers and mothers using the mobile app showed enhanced outcomes related to parental well-being and infant development.

The team observed that parents who used SPA demonstrated better levels of perceived social support compared to those who did not use it during pregnancy and post-childbirth periods. During this vulnerable time, many parents struggle due to increased responsibilities in parenting. Yet, the study found a decrease in depressive symptoms among mothers using the app one month after childbirth which was mntned up until nine months later. In contrast, depressive symptoms began to increase for non-users immediately postpartum.

Additionally, SPA users had infants with lower risks of developmental delays across several areas such as cognition 5.5 vs 23.8, motor skills 9.1 vs 19.0, communication abilities TBD vs TBD, and emotional development TBD vs TBD. This highlights the importance of technology-based interventions developed by healthcare professionals, providing peer support and information that Singapore's context.

Professor Shorey further enhance SPA and assess its impact on parents facing socio-economic disadvantages or those with children who have special needs. The team hopes to make this valuable resource avlable for all local parents in the future.

In , the Supportive Parenting Application presents a reliable source of information for expecting families during an unprecedented period like COVID-19 when access to resources and tangible support was limited. This initiative, combined with peer-to-peer support, could provide comprehensive prenatal care that supplements healthcare professionals' services, leading to improved outcomes for both parents and their infants.

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