The free JANAM app features a range of information videos in seven different languages – English, Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi and Tamil.
Pregnant women and professionals helped to design the app and the videos feature experts and patients sharing their own experiences.
Topics covered include the pregnancy journey, antenatal care, emergencies, labour, bereavement, mental health, and the post-natal period. Families can create their own pregnancy calendar and choose to receive regular public health notifications.
Jenny Roddy, Consultant Midwife, Health Equity, at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are really pleased to be bringing the JANAM app to South Asian communities in Leeds. The app helps South Asian mums feel confident and informed every step of the way. It’s easy to use and is a great way of sharing information that people can understand and relate to.
“There are some really useful videos explaining important information, for example around birth choices and pain relief options, different pregnancy conditions, induction of labour and caesarean birth, which have proved popular with families.
“We want to support and empower women and families from South Asian backgrounds to access important information about their pregnancies in their own language. We know that nationally, women from Global Ethnic Majority backgrounds can experience poorer health outcomes during pregnancy and after birth. This app will help us tackle these health inequalities and give women the power to make informed choices about their care.”
Tasneema, a midwife and one of a team of app Champions at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: “I’m really excited for the launch of the JANAM app. I truly believe it will help improve understanding, awareness, informed choice, and accessibility of care for women from South Asian backgrounds. I know this will be a powerful tool for our communities.”
The JANAM app will be offered to all new patients from South Asian backgrounds but patients can start using it at any point during their pregnancy and in the early post birth period. Anyone wishing to use it can ask their midwife for an access code.
The app was designed by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester, to provide evidence-based and accessible patient information, supporting families from South Asian backgrounds to access and engage with maternity services.
Find out more about the JANAM app on the Leeds Teaching Hospitals website here: Pregnancy classes – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
There is also a wide range of translated maternity resources on the website here: Translated maternity resources – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust