Using a smartphone app to help pregnant women in Ghana monitor their blood pressure at home
Official title: Adapting and evaluating smartphone app-enhanced home blood pressure monitoring among pregnant women in Ghana
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11058774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new smartphone app designed to help pregnant women in Ghana easily monitor their blood pressure at home, making it easier for them to stay healthy and catch any potential issues early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $192,507 |
| NIH project number | 1R21TW012939-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women living in urban Ghana who have access to smartphones.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without access to smartphones may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve blood pressure monitoring for pregnant women in Ghana by adapting a smartphone app specifically for their needs. The project will involve focus groups with local pregnant women and healthcare providers to ensure the app is culturally relevant and user-friendly. Over a four-week period, 100 pregnant participants will use the app to monitor their blood pressure at home, with the study assessing how well they can use the app and whether it effectively alerts them to any concerning health issues. The goal is to enhance maternal health outcomes by making blood pressure monitoring more accessible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of blood pressure during pregnancy, reducing risks of complications for both mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that smartphone-based health interventions can be effective in improving patient outcomes, suggesting a promising approach for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawrence, Emma Rachel — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lawrence, Emma Rachel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.