The Recent Progress and Applications of Digital Technologies in Maternal Care: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This paper is a scoping review that examines the recent progress and applications of digital technologies (DT) in Tanzanian maternal care from 2010 to 2025. While several researchers and authors claim that maternal care uses DT, there is no clear documentation of recent progress, types of DT used, the role of DT, or its use. Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar for original studies in English published between January 2010 and November 2025. A total of 126 studies from 35 countries were discovered. Digital interventions in Tanzania included mHealth applications, SMS reminders, teleconsultation platforms, and electronic referral systems. These tools primarily supported antenatal care, health education, appointment reminders, and provider communication. The findings show improved access to maternal services, higher antenatal attendance, better referral coordination, and strong acceptance from both pregnant women and healthcare providers. However, the study revealed several challenges, including limited digital literacy, unreliable internet connections, cost issues, and data privacy concerns. This scoping review demonstrates that digital health technologies improve maternal care delivery in Tanzania by enhancing access, continuity, and communication throughout the care process. Also, when thoughtfully integrated, these tools enhance facility-based services and improve maternal health outcomes, though it is important to address local barriers and strengthen health system integration to ensure fair and lasting implementation. While the study stirs other researchers to start doing research on Maternal care, it also helps policymakers, hospital managements, and workers to understand how to deploy DT thoughtfully in their hospitals, cities, and country as a whole so as to have a positive effect on mothers throughout their pregnancy, general healthcare, and maternal care workers.