**Abstract**

Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia are the most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa leading to undesirable perinatal and maternal outcomes. In South Africa, a high rate of maternal death was noted due to pre-eclampsia. However, the use of digital maternal health in South Africa has become of significance for reinforcement of health care. Digital health initiatives such as mobile health technologies were developed to improve better access to communities in low and middle-income countries. The implementation and practices of digital health seem to be growing expandable to achieve the UHC goals in the provision of care to all globally and nationally. This review aims to review existing literature on the use of digital maternal health to minimise admission of pre-eclampsia and early identification of gravid women who are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

**Keywords:** digital health, early detection maternal health, pre-eclampsia

## **1. Introduction**

Maternal mortality remains a burden across the globe with 295,000 reported by the World Health Organisation. This burden continues to increase despite Primary Health Care (PHC) being are regarded as the cornerstone to curve the rise of maternal deaths due to pregnancy-related complications [1]. One of the leading causes of maternal death is reported to be pre-eclampsia [1]. Pre-eclampsia is the elevation of blood pressure (> 140 systolic mmHg and > 90 mmHg diastolic) after 20 weeks of gestation with a significant amount of protein in the urine in gravid women [2]. It accounts for approximately 5–11% of pregnancies and remains the leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide [3]. Also, it is reported to account for approximately 63,000 yearly maternal mortality worldwide [4].

Approximately 6% of pregnancies develop mild pre-eclampsia and 1 to 2% develop severe pre-eclampsia in the United Kingdom (UK) [5]. Furthermore, one in six women with a history of pre-eclampsia is predicted to be most likely to have pre-eclampsia in the next pregnancy. As a result, the development of digital health solutions such as mobile health initiative applications, telemonitoring and SAFE@ HOME to diagnose and manage pre-eclampsia has been implemented and designed for use in health facilities and homes by health care providers and patients respectively. The digital health applications assist by providing recommendations on treatment, reassessment and referral [6, 7].

Digital Health is the utilisation of digital, mobile, and wireless technologies for health [8]. Digital Health innovation has become of significance in Sub-Saharan Africa for the reinforcement of health care [9]. Digital Health initiative such as telemonitoring was applied in Parkinstan to support women at risk of developing preeclampsia by close monitoring of blood pressure at home for earliest signs. The use of telemonitoring could lead to early detection of pre-eclampsia and the required need for treatment and admission of women with pre-eclampsia [10]. South Africa implemented mobile health initiatives such as Mom-Connect to improve foetalmaternal well-being at home by targeted communications to pregnant women with various disorders including pre-eclampsia [8].
