Evaluating Cultural and Technical Barriers in Gestational Diabetes and Gestational Weight Gain Mhealth Applications for LMIC with User-Centered Analysis

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) present significant public health challenges globally, with particularly severe implications in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). While mobile health (mHealth) applications offer potential for self-management support, existing solutions demonstrate substantial limitations when evaluated through a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) lens. This study presents a systematic heuristic evaluation of ten leading mHealth applications across four categories: native GDM applications, clinical/research platforms, general diabetes tools, and pregnancy trackers. Our analysis identifies critical design failures, including fragmented data integration, poor usability, and the absence of trauma-informed protocols. Furthermore, we examine the specific contextual barriers that make these applications ineffective in Bangladesh, including digital infrastructure limitations, cultural dietary practices, and gendered technology access. Based on these findings, we propose a comprehensive design framework emphasizing voice-first interfaces, offline-first architecture, and culturally appropriate nutritional guidance to support effective GDM and GWG management in LMIC contexts.