Philips and Ingeborg Initiatives have announced a collaboration to provide expectant parents in Arkansas with customized health resources through the Philips Avent Pregnancy+ app. The initiative aims to address the state’s maternal health challenges by increasing access to care, improving health literacy, and encouraging healthy habits among pregnant individuals.
The partnership comes at a critical time for maternal healthcare in Arkansas, which currently ranks 50th in both maternal mortality and infant mortality in the United States. State residents who download the Pregnancy+ app will automatically receive access to premium, customized content specifically developed for Arkansas families.
“Maternal health in Arkansas is in crisis. Lawmakers are now focused on it, but it is going to take all stakeholders—public, private, philanthropic—to get women the care they need before, during and after birth,” said Olivia Walton, Founder & CEO of Ingeborg Initiatives. “We want to meet moms where they are—on their phones—providing them with the necessary resources at their fingertips. This is a positive step towards helping ensure healthier pregnancies through access to critical information and services that will help build healthy families.”
The Pregnancy+ app, which has more than 80 million lifetime downloads and is described as the world’s #1 pregnancy app, provides comprehensive information throughout pregnancy. Features include over 800 articles, lifelike 3D baby models, a weekly pregnancy tracker, and audio/video courses led by health and well-being experts. For Arkansas users, the app is additionally customized with information about state-based social services, infant health topics, mental health resources, early childhood programs, and support services for expecting and new parents.
A recent survey cited in the press release indicates that pregnant and postpartum mothers using the Pregnancy+ app report higher maternal health literacy, greater interest in engaging in early and regular prenatal care, and more adoption of healthy habits compared to those who do not use pregnancy apps. The companies suggest these improvements may ultimately foster better health outcomes for both mothers and babies.
“At Philips, we are deeply committed to advancing maternal health and access to care through education and innovative technology, and Pregnancy+ is just one way we are doing that,” said Dana Medema, Head of Personal Health, Philips North America. “No one organization is going to be able to address the maternal health crisis alone, but collaboratively, we can meet moms where they are and give them access to the care they need.”
