Pregnant Women's Experience of Post-Antenatal Care Communication via WhatsApp in Rural Areas
Abstract
Communication after antenatal care (ANC) remains important because many questions arise once pregnant women return home. In rural settings, WhatsApp has begun to function as a simple follow-up channel, but little is known about how women experience this communication in everyday life. This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s experiences of post-ANC communication via WhatsApp in rural areas, including its forms, meanings, benefits, limitations, and unmet communication needs. This qualitative study used a descriptive-exploratory design. It was conducted in March 2026 at Kedungbanteng Community Health Center (Puskesmas Kedungbanteng) in Kedungbanteng Sub-district, Banyumas Regency, Indonesia. Five pregnant women who had experienced WhatsApp communication after ANC visits were selected purposively. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically. Post-ANC communication via WhatsApp was not experienced uniformly. One informant described responsive and reassuring communication from a midwife, while the other four informants mostly received administrative messages, particularly reminders about schedules and follow-up services. Even so, WhatsApp was still considered useful because it helped mothers recall appointments, access information more quickly, and maintain contact with health workers after clinical visits. However, the communication often did not provide sufficient clarification regarding examination results, complaints, danger signs, or practical advice relevant to daily life. This uneven quality shows that digital access alone does not guarantee meaningful follow-up support. WhatsApp has potential to support post-ANC communication in rural maternal care, but its current use remains more administrative than responsive. To better support continuity of information and women’s sense of being cared for, post-ANC communication should become more dialogical, timely, and responsive to the everyday concerns of pregnant women.
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