Table 1.

Themes and the illustrative quotes.

Theme	Illustrative quote
The mobile app potentially counters parents’ infrequent use of the MCHHa with accuracy, attractiveness, convenience, and simplicity.	…I don't know how many parents even open the MCHH. Most of them don't. They tell me it's for the doctor to read even when previous versions have included a section for parents to record. The MCHH changes from year to year and parents sometime forget to bring it to health supervision visits. Some lose them in floods. An app could easily and accurately help them check if their numbers (child’s growth parameters) are normal, and it should provide brief information for further actions. [Quote 1, Health care provider 2] …When I had my first child, I always read the MCHH and plotted his growth parameters. As for my second child, I just used the MCHH to record vaccines. I rely on the doctors for immunization appointments. I never recorded immunizations either; the doctor does that. I don’t really record things in the MCHH book. I bring it along for health supervision visits, not sick visits. If there were an app on my mobile, it would make things more convenient. [Quote 2, Parent 1] …This is great! But does it need to be constantly connected to the internet? Because not many people will pay for the charge, parents in remote areas won’t. [Quote 3, Parent 2]
Health supervision needs to be standard, up-to-date, and understandable.	…For child health supervision, the app needs to have sections about growth, vaccination, development, which are standard and up-to-date. Once guidelines or standards change, they should be reflected in the app. The MCHH cannot do this. The parameters should be corrected for premature babies. [Quote 4, Health care provider 3] I don’t think the parents understand what the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine is; it needs to be explained in Thai briefly. I think all vaccinations should be presented by age; that makes it easier for parents. [Quote 5, Health care provider 4] …I would use it for growth and development assessment; it should tell the parent what to do if their child has abnormal development, like go see the doctor or the kind of stimulation that is needed, and it should use a corrected age for preterm babies. I’ve searched for apps that could do this but have not yet found any that are free of charge. [Quote 6, Parent 3] ...This app is very complete, organized, and easy to use. I can automatically assess my child’s growth, development, vaccines. The information comes from a reliable source and it even has a journal where I can add pictures. I would definitely use this app. [Quote 7, Parent 4]

^aMCHH: maternal and child health handbook.