Can a Digital Tool Reduce Inequalities in Pregnancy Monitoring?

Preterm births and stillbirths remain major challenges for maternity services. People from disadvantaged backgrounds or ethnic minorities are more exposed to these risks. A solution could come from a medical decision-support tool designed to improve risk assessment during pregnancy.

This online tool enables healthcare professionals and expectant mothers to more accurately assess the risks of preterm birth or placental dysfunction. Unlike traditional methods based on checklists, it uses validated algorithms to provide recommendations tailored to each situation. The goal is to reduce the gaps in care that particularly affect vulnerable populations.

The study involved over a thousand women and a hundred caregivers across five British hospitals. The results show that the tool increased the number of women monitored, rising from 70% to 90% after the addition of a feature allowing professionals to create profiles for those unable to register themselves. This improvement primarily benefited women from disadvantaged backgrounds or ethnic minorities, whose proportion among users significantly increased.

Caregivers noted that the tool made their work easier by providing clear and personalized advice. The women indicated that the available information helped them better understand warning signs and seek consultation more quickly when needed. However, obstacles remain, such as language barriers for those not proficient in English or difficulties accessing technology for some.

The tool incorporates diverse data, including ethnic origin, to refine assessments. This approach aims to avoid bias and provide more equitable monitoring. Professionals remain optimistic about its potential to reduce disparities, provided it continues to be adapted to the needs of all patients.

The next steps include translating the interface into multiple languages and evaluating its impact on a larger scale. If the results are confirmed, this tool could become a significant lever for improving safety and equity in maternity care.

Legal References

Reference Work

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-026-00255-y

Title: Does the Tommy’s Pathway: Clinical Decision Support Tool have the potential to reduce disparities in UK maternity care? Findings from an early adopter implementation evaluation study

Journal: BMC Digital Health

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Jenny Carter; Dilly Anumba; Christy Burden; Siobhán Gillespie; Amy Howell; Andrew Judge; Erik Lenguerrand; Samantha Pérez Amack; Elaine Sheehan; Basky Thilaganathan; Maria Viner; Hannah Wilson; Cathy Winter; Jane Sandall;