Content and functionality characteristics of physical exercise applications for pregnant women on mobile devices available in Brazil: a descriptive analysis.

• Grant number: 25/13196-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Míriam Raquel Diniz Zanetti
• Grantee: Nathally dos Santos Pessoa Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Regular physical exercise during pregnancy is widely recommended by health organizations due to its benefits for maternal and fetal health. With the advancement of technology, mobile applications have emerged as accessible tools to encourage exercise among pregnant women. However, the quality, functionality, and scientific basis of these applications are still little known, especially in the Brazilian context. Objective: To analyze the content and functionality characteristics of physical exercise applications for pregnant women available on mobile devices in Brazil. Materials and methods: This is an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study conducted through a systematic search in the iTunes (Apple Inc., Brazil) and Google Play Store (Google Inc., Brazil) digital stores, using keywords in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Free apps available in these languages ¿¿and specifically aimed at pregnant women were included. Apps that required specific professional guidance (such as yoga, pilates and crossfit) or that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. The information extracted included name, developer, language, number of downloads, ratings, date of last update and operating system. The evaluation of the applications will be based on criteria established by international guidelines (ACOG, WHO, SBGO) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), allowing a comparative and standardized analysis of the functionalities and quality of the applications. (AU)