Telehealth in Pregnancy: Historical Evolution and Practical Insights From Iran and Turkiye Publisher



Maleki N ; Shaw BS ; Ince F ; Shariat A
Source: Journal of Research on History of Medicine Published:2025

Abstract

This narrative review explores the history of telehealth in pregnancy, following the evolution of telehealth since initial physiological monitoring systems in the 1960s to the complex digital platforms that many have embraced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the progress has been global, there is an increased interest in Iran and Turkiye, where telehealth initiatives have evolved significantly over the past years. The literature review was performed through queries in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus with the following keywords: telehealth, telemedicine, pregnancy, Iran, Turkiye, history. Telehealth in obstetrics was initially in the form of low-end consultations in the 1990s, but has evolved into high-end digital gadgets (e.g. apps, sensors) by the 2010s. Equity, privacy, and evidence-based standards should be considered in the requirements of the future integration owing to the desire of quality and accessibility. © 2025, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.