Background: The Eltern-Kind-Pass (Parent-Child-Pass) in Austria, originally known as the Mutter-Kind-Pass (Mother-Child-Pass), is a vital tool for monitoring the health of pregnant women and their children up to 5 years of age. Recent and ongoing developments are preparing the way to its digital transformation. Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the importance of psychosocial factors impacting health, prompting the planned inclusion of screenings for (postpartal) depression, anxiety, socioeconomic situation, and domestic violence.
Method: The development of the electronic Parent-Child-Pass involves extensive consultations with healthcare and public health professionals, IT experts, and policymakers, as well as families. The integration of psychosocial screenings is guided by evidence-based guidelines and recommendations from a multi-year stakeholder process. The Parent-Child-Pass will be available in multiple languages, including German, English, French, and Serbian (representing BKS -Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian), as well as in easy language formats and accessible for speech output devices.
Results: Although the implementation process is ongoing, preliminary feedback indicates that the digitalization of the Parent-Child-Pass has the potential to significantly improve the documentation and accessibility of health records. The planned inclusion of psychosocial screenings aims to enable early identification and intervention.
Conclusion: The electronic Parent-Child-Pass represents a significant advancement in maternal and child preventive healthcare in Austria. By incorporating psychosocial screenings and ensuring accessibility in multiple languages and formats, the program aims to address a broader spectrum of health determinants, promoting holistic well-being. Continued evaluation and user feedback will be essential to optimize the system and ensure its effectiveness in improving health outcomes.