Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, has teamed up with Ingeborg Initiatives to offer all expectant parents in Arkansas access to the Philips Avent Pregnancy+ app. This collaboration aims to provide customized, state-specific information and tools, with the goals of increasing access to care, boosting health literacy, and encouraging healthier habits.
Residents of Arkansas who download the Pregnancy+ app will automatically receive access to this premium, customized content, designed to support them throughout their pregnancy journey. This initiative comes at a critical time, given the concerning health statistics in the state.
Arkansas faces significant challenges in maternal and infant health. The state ranks 50th in the U.S. for both maternal and infant mortality rates. Recognizing this urgent need, the partnership seeks to leverage technology to provide valuable resources directly to expectant parents.
Educational tools like the Pregnancy+ app offer families direct access to expert-developed content. This includes information designed to promote awareness, build confidence, and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. A recent study of pregnant and postpartum mothers revealed that those using the Pregnancy+ app reported higher maternal health literacy and a greater interest in early and regular prenatal care, which potentially leads to improved health outcomes for both mothers and babies.
“Maternal health in Arkansas is in crisis,” stated Olivia Walton, Founder & CEO of Ingeborg Initiatives. “It will take all stakeholders—public, private, and philanthropic—to get women the care they need before, during, and after birth. 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, a leading pregnancy resource with over 80 million lifetime downloads, is designed to provide continuous support and guidance. It features over 800 articles, 3D models of fetal development, a weekly pregnancy tracker, and audio/video courses by health and wellness experts. The app’s customized content specifically addresses the needs of Arkansas families, with information on local social services, infant health, mental health resources, early childhood programs, and other support services crucial for expecting and new parents.
Dana Medema, Head of Personal Health, Philips North America, emphasized the company’s commitment: “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. 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.”
