Exploring the acceptability of a wearable fetal heart rate device by race and ethnicity
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The creation of wearable fetal heart rate devices offers a novel opportunity for urban mothers, providing them with a tool to actively monitor and engage with their pregnancy which was previously unattainable outside of clinical settings. The devices allow continuous and convenient fetal monitoring, potentially reducing maternal anxiety. Additionally, the ability to track fetal heart rate trends over time could aid in the early detection and intervention of potential issues. These devices have various benefits enhancing prenatal care, but their acceptability across race and ethnicities is uncertain. This study considers the relationship between the race and ethnicity of women and the acceptability of the wearable fetal heart rate among urban women. An online quantitative survey was conducted via Qualtrics among urban women, compiling data regarding their attitudes towards wearable fetal heart devices. The survey was based on previous device acceptability survey tools and consisted of 47 questions, including questions regarding participant demographics such as age, education, health literacy, and more. The association between race and ethnicity and device acceptability was analyzed through descriptive statistics including cross-tabulations to compare the variables and Chi-square tests to assess the statistical significance of the differences, using SPSS (v29). With a total of 163 responses, the cross-tabulation analysis of the valid cases (N=103) showed differences in the acceptability between Caucasian and minority women. Minority women had a higher acceptability of 70% in comparison to the 57% of Caucasian women (p=.162). Chi-square analysis results suggest a trend of high acceptability in minority women however, the differences did not reach the conventional statistical significance. The data collected by these devices can be invaluable for medical professionals, offering insights into acceptability of wearable medical devices to improve fetal health outcomes within urban populations, leading to improved healthcare interventions and outcomes for maternal and child health in urban settings.