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Mobile application(mHealth) is considered as a ‘source of health guidance’. (Grundy et al., 2016). World health organization (WHO) defines m-Health as “use of mobile and wireless technologies to support the achievement of health objectives”. In other words, mHealth is defined as wireless communication tools that enable appropriate intervention or support in health care delivery or ‘use of mobile communication devices in health services’. (Sweileh et al., 2017). mHealth also means to use any mobile application or wearable for self-quantification, i.e to use for managing and maintaining one’s health. It enables a positive behavioural change among user or patients for better health outcomes (Nouri et al., 2018). mHealth apps are a solution for people to be more self-sufficient with their health, lifestyle or medical needs (Vervier et al., 2019).
Today, mHealth is the keyword for providing a continuum of care while addressing issues like accessibility, affordability of health services. With the growing changes, technologies pave the way for privacy concern in the field of health too. Using a smartphone for tracking one’s health, especially during their reproductive years is very common among Internet users. According to statistics, about 38 per cent in India, use as many as 8 to 10 mobile application daily. Mobile phone intervention can improve patient-provider communication in terms of health care delivery to rural populations. Further, it can bring down the expenditure on healthcare services and also obtain information easily. Google Trends for mHealth related searches ranked India among the top five for frequently searching on mobile health, health apps, medical apps and mHealth. (Industry, 2017)
mHealth apps are popularly used in the field of cancer, pregnancy, child care, obesity, management and control of diabetes, mental health, cardiovascular diseases, and smoking cessation. The apps are not only widespread among patients and the general public but also healthcare professionals. They mainly use it for access to medical references and research and health records, patient management and monitoring, diagnosing medical conditions, access to health records. Nonetheless, most users of mHealth apps do not pay attention to the potential hazards and risks of mHealth apps, especially – privacy and security. (Nouri et al., 2018)
A systematic review of 71 articles in 2013 found that though there is an increase in privacy concerns, usage of e-health among pregnant women would be on the rise in the next few decades. Pregnant women use the Internet and apps for prenatal, perinatal and postnatal related information and also to share experience and opinions and also for peer support. (Heuvel et al., 2018)