Step by Step: A Healthy Dietary Start for Mothers and Children - Exploration and Development of an mHealth Dietary Support Tool for the First 1,000 Days

A healthy maternal diet during the first 1,000 days is crucial for lifelong health, yet diet quality in this period is often suboptimal. This thesis explored and developed a user-centred mHealth tool for dietary support in the first 1,000 days. Existing apps often lack guideline-based information and healthcare professionals have limited time and resources to provide dietary support. Pregnant and postpartum women indicated diverse eating experiences, key barriers such as discomfort and time constraints, and a need for practical, personalized, and non-judgmental guidance. These insights informed the design and usability testing of the first PRISTA app prototype. Additional work examined preconception diet and fertility, infant feeding experiences, and an early-life feeding program. Overall, the thesis concludes that mHealth apps can be valuable when grounded in extensive user input. Women and healthcare professionals highlight the need for trustworthy, tailored, supportive tools, while further research is needed on preconception, and child nutrition to strengthen dietary support across the first 1,000 days.