Telehealth and Prenatal Care: Advancing Maternal Health in the Digital Age

U. R. Ajie, A. S. Nwagwu, C. Vincent, J. Ibebuike, A. Emesowum, F. Onyekwuo

Maternal mortality and pregnancy-related problems continue to be significant public health issues, especially in low- and middle-income nations where access to appropriate prenatal care is frequently lacking. Rapid advancements in information and communication technologies have changed the delivery of healthcare. Telehealth is a promising approach to improve maternal healthcare access, continuity, and quality. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of telehealth in normal prenatal care, emphasising its promise to complement traditional antenatal treatments. A critical review of the current evidence on the role of telehealth in prenatal care, discussing its applications, technological advances, effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes, barriers to implementation, implications for nursing practice, and future directions in the area of digital maternal healthcare. A narrative review of peer-reviewed literature from 2020 to 2025 was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library databases. Current clinical guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG), International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were also evaluated. Studies on telehealth interventions in pregnancy, remote patient monitoring, mobile health technology, wearable devices, artificial intelligence and digital maternal health advances were synthesised. Recent evidence shows that telemedicine significantly expands access to prenatal healthcare, especially for women in rural, underserved, and geographically isolated populations. Virtual antenatal consultations, remote patient monitoring, wearable biosensors, mobile health applications and artificial intelligence-assisted decision support systems have been shown to be effective in improving maternal engagement, early detection of pregnancy complications, decrease in unnecessary hospital visits, improved continuity of care and maternal satisfaction. Emerging technologies such as remote foetal monitoring, tele-ultrasound, and machine learning algorithms are transforming prenatal surveillance and personalised maternal care. Yet, several impediments still exist, including lack of digital infrastructure, restricted internet connection, uneven digital literacy levels, inconsistent regulations, cybersecurity concerns, reimbursement issues, and unequal access to digital technology. Telehealth has become an integral part of contemporary prenatal health care delivery. Digital health technologies have the potential to improve maternal and newborn outcomes and promote equal healthcare access when integrated with traditional antenatal care. Future initiatives should focus on building digital infrastructure, improving nurse competencies in telehealth, implementing supportive regulatory regulations, and facilitating equitable implementation across various healthcare settings.