scholarly journals Educational behaviors of pregnant women in the Bronx during Zika’s International emerging epidemic: “First mom … and then I’d Google. And then my doctor”

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Rodriguez ◽  
Antoinette A. Danvers ◽  
Carolina Sanabia ◽  
Siobhan M. Dolan

Abstract Background The objective of the study was to understand how pregnant women learned about Zika infection and to identify what sources of information were likely to influence them during their pregnancy. Methods We conducted 13 semi-structed interviews in English and Spanish with women receiving prenatal care who were tested for Zika virus infection. We analyzed the qualitative data using descriptive approach. Results Pregnant women in the Bronx learned about Zika from family, television, the internet and their doctor. Informational sources played different roles. Television, specifically Spanish language networks, was often the initial source of information. Women searched the internet for additional information about Zika. Later, they engaged in further discussions with their healthcare providers. Conclusions Television played an important role in providing awareness about Zika to pregnant women in the Bronx, but that information was incomplete. The internet and healthcare providers were sources of more complete information and are likely the most influential. Efforts to educate pregnant women about emerging infectious diseases will benefit from using a variety of approaches including television messages that promote public awareness followed up by reliable information via the internet and healthcare providers.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Rodriguez ◽  
Antoinette A. Danvers ◽  
Carolina Sanabia ◽  
Siobhan M. Dolan

Abstract BackgroundThe objective of the study was to understand how pregnant women learned about Zika infection and to identify what sources of information were likely to influence them during their pregnancy.MethodsWe conducted 13 semi-structed interviews in English and Spanish with women receiving prenatal care who were tested for Zika virus infection. We analyzed the qualitative data using grounded theory.ResultsPregnant women in the Bronx learned about Zika from family, television, the internet and their doctor. Informational sources played different roles. Television, specifically Spanish language networks, was often the initial source of information. Women searched the internet for additional information about Zika. Later, they engaged in further discussions with their healthcare providers.ConclusionsTelevision played an important role in providing awareness about Zika to pregnant women in the Bronx, but that information was incomplete. The internet and healthcare providers were sources of more complete information and are likely the most influential. Efforts to educate pregnant women about emerging infectious diseases will benefit from using a variety of approaches including television messages that promote public awareness followed up by reliable information via the internet and healthcare providers.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Mass Dalhaug ◽  
Lene Annette Hagen Haakstad

BACKGROUND Regular physical activity (PA), adequate gestational weight gain (GWG), and healthy eating are important for the long-term health of both mother and baby. Hence, it is important that women receive current and updated advice on these topics and are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the main information sources among pregnant women regarding PA, GWG, and nutrition as well as to evaluate how these information sources may affect their health behaviors. METHODS A cross-sectional study design, comprising an electronic questionnaire, was distributed to 2 antenatal clinics, as well as pregnancy-related online chat forums and social media. The inclusion criteria were ≥18 years, ≥20 weeks gestation, and able to read and write Norwegian. In total, 150 pregnant women answered the questionnaire, which was a mix of 11-point Likert scales, close-ended questions, and semi–close-ended questions with the option to elaborate. The relationship between information sources and selected variables, including health behaviors and descriptive variables, were assessed by logistic regression, linear regression, or chi-square as appropriate (P<.05). RESULTS Mean age (years), gestation week, and prepregnancy body mass index (kg/m2) were 31.1 (SD 4.3), 30.6 (SD 5.9), and 24.2 (SD 4.2), respectively. More than eight out of 10 had received or retrieved information about nutrition (88.7%, 133/150) and PA (80.7%, 121/150), whereas 54.0% (81/150) reported information on GWG. When combining all 3 lifestyle factors, 38.5% had retrieved information from blogs and online forums and 26.6%, from their midwife or family physician. Women who reported the internet and media as their primary source of information on weight gain had increased odds of gaining weight below the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines compared with gaining within the guidelines (odds ratio [OR] 15.5, 95% CI 1.4-167.4; P=.02). Higher compliance with nutritional guidelines was seen among those who cited the internet and media as their main source of information on nutrition (beta=.7, 95% CI 0.07-1.3; P=.03). On the other side, receiving advice from friends and family on weight gain was significantly associated with gaining weight above the IOM guidelines compared with gaining within the guidelines (OR 12.0, 95% CI 1.3-111.7; P=.03). No other associations were found between information sources and health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The small number of health professionals giving information and the extensive use of internet- and media-based sources emphasize the need to address the quality of internet advice and guide women toward trustworthy sources of information during pregnancy. The association between information sources and PA, GWG, and nutrition requires further research.


Author(s):  
Taiara Maestro Calderon ◽  
Maria Elisa Wotzasek Cestari ◽  
Alyni Cristiny Dobkowski ◽  
Mariana Digieri Cavalheiro

Introduction: Pregnancy is a period of doubts and anxiety for most pregnant women. Objective: To evaluate the use of the Internet as a support tool to clarify doubts raised by women during pregnancy. Methods: An exploratory and descriptive study. Sample based on accidentalness, for 241 users who responded to the on-line form, built with Google Docs and made available in  one Blog. Results: 98% of pregnant women were between 19 and 39 years, 97% with schooling above 9 years, 99% had follow up with healthcare providers. Regarding the use of the Internet, 99% said they usually search for the pregnancy questions. The doubts consisted mostly in the search for information about the development of the baby, then how to deal with the discomforts of pregnancy, the changes in the woman’s body and feeding care. The choice of the sites, according to the interviewees, occurred mainly through the indication of social networks, friends and acquaintances. Regarding to the resolution of doubts, 97% reported that after the Internet search doubts were resolved. Conclusion: The Internet has been a tool of support for pregnant women who seek effective support on the World Wide Web to clarify their doubts. The significant standard for clarification and education reflected a customer that will search and possibly question the procedures and practices that are performed during prenatal care. However, the search for sites has been based on independent research guidance by health professionals, something which does not ensure the credibility of the sites surveyed by users.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadri Ojaperv ◽  
Sirje Virkus

Purpose This study aims to increase the understanding of the pregnancy-related information behavior (IB) of pregnant women in Estonia. Design/methodology/approach The research involved a quantitative research methodology consisting of a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was collected from pregnant Estonian women through a self-administered Web-based questionnaire using a convenience sampling during the period from January to February 2019. A total of 300 pregnant women answered the questionnaire. The data were analysed using statistical analysis and the results of the study were compared with the results of previous studies. Findings The three topics on which information was most frequently sought were: fetal development, use of medicines during pregnancy and symptoms of pregnancy. The main sources of information were the internet and the midwife. The most reliable and valuable source of information was a midwife. Health-related information was sought mainly because it helped women make decisions related to pregnancy and childbirth. A number of factors facilitate the information seeking process. In addition, widespread access to the internet and technological skills facilitated IB. The following factors hindered the search for information: the controversy and/or ambiguity of information published on the internet and the time spent searching for information. Most women used wearable technologies during pregnancy. Research limitations/implications This study has several limitations. First, the weakness of online surveys is the potential lack of representativeness, as it excludes from the survey those who do not have access to or ability to use the internet for various reasons (Evans and Mathur, 2005; Limbu et al., 2021). Second, as most recruitment for the study took place online, there was a risk that those who did not use the internet could be excluded from the survey. Third, as the questionnaire was also shared in the Facebook news feed by the Women’s Clinic and Maternity Hospital of the East Tallinn Central Hospital, it may be that the respondents recruited through it more often used the support provided by medical professionals. Fourth, due to the volume limits of the study, it is not possible to present all the results of the study on the basis of socio-demographic characteristics and stage of pregnancy. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to the broader population and future studies should explore a larger and more representative populations. Practical implications This study will give some useful information to help to improve the services offered for pregnant women in Estonia. Social implications The findings of this study may inform how to better support this target group. Originality/value There is a lack of research in Estonia that focuses on the IB of pregnant women and this research fills this gap.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Middleton ◽  
I Koliandri ◽  
E Hadjigeorgiou ◽  
M Karanikola ◽  
O Kolokotroni ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Traditional approaches to antenatal education have been questioned as to their effectiveness. The use of the internet for information-seeking is very prevalent, however sources are of varied quality. We explored the information-seeking behaviour of pregnant women in the context of health literacy skills and informed decision-making. Methods In a mixed-method descriptive study, 12 focus groups with a culturally diverse set of pregnant women and new mothers (N = 62), a non-participant observation study of antenatal education classes and a web-based questionnaire survey were performed (N = 200). The survey explored use and critical appraisal of internet sources of information, perceived role in assisting decision-making, user-provider interaction, alliance and autonomy in decision making. Results Six themes emerged: in a generally “unsupportive system”, pregnant women want to have a “confident voice” but find themselves “self-navigating” in parallel worlds of formal and informal information, using a process of “supplementing and filtering”, sometimes instinctively and selectively, ending up in a state of “doubt and faith” with regards to the trustworthiness of the information and physician dominance in communication, while the “art of communication” is essential to break the cycle. Internet information-searching is very prevalent, even though 60% characterize the information as misleading and 90% would like health professionals to recommend trusted sites. While the majority report discussing this information with their healthcare providers, only 57% characterize the reception as positive. Conclusions Women want to have control over decisions affecting their pregnancy. While the internet is a prevalent information source, they value the communication with their healthcare providers and want direction. Maternity healthcare professionals need to recognize the phenomenon, offer appropriate guidance and support shared decision-making. Key messages “Traditional” antenatal education arrangements are not effective in supporting informed decision-making. In a landscape of prevalent internet use, a shift is needed from current practices of unguided information-searching.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-42
Author(s):  
Francis Dalisay ◽  
Masahiro Yamamoto ◽  
Matthew J. Kushin

Abstract Using the case of Guam, the present study examines the politically demobilizing potential of conflict avoidance in the Pacific. An analysis of data from a probability-based mail survey of registered voters (N = 319) in Guam revealed that conflict avoidance is inversely associated with political participation, civic engagement, and attention to interpersonal sources of information on a political issue. An inverse relationship between conflict avoidance and attention to the Internet as a source of information on a political issue was also approaching statistical significance. However, conflict avoidance was not associated with neighborliness. Implications are discussed.


Author(s):  
Uchenna Benedine Okafor ◽  
Daniel Ter Goon

Despite global awareness about the importance and health benefits of physical activity (PA) during pregnancy, several studies have reported a low prevalence of PA participation among pregnant women in both developed and developing countries. This means that most pregnant women do not meet the current PA recommended guideline of 150 min of moderate intensity PA per week. The global call to prioritise PA participation levels in the general population necessitates evaluating the factors affecting PA practice. Seemingly, pregnant women mostly from low-to-middle income countries like South Africa are often predisposed to adverse pregnancy outcomes, possibly because of limited access to, and knowledge of, improved pregnancy and health outcomes as a result of PA participation. Physical activity has been sparsely studied among pregnant South African women, and specifically, there is no known study that assesses the PA levels, patterns, beliefs, sources of information, perceived benefits, barriers, attitudes of pregnant women concerning PA and exercise participation; nor one that explores the perspectives of healthcare providers regarding prenatal PA in the Eastern Cape Province. In addition, no PA intervention strategy exists to promote PA participation in the region. This study, in attempting to fill these gaps in knowledge, adopts two phases. In Phase I, a concurrent mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative) approach assesses the following factors related to PA participation in pregnant women: participation levels, beliefs, attitudes, perceived benefits, barriers to uptake and sources of information. It further ascertains if healthcare professionals are sufficiently informed about PA and if they are advising pregnant women about the need for PA participation during pregnancy. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussions. Information on socio-demographic and maternal characteristics will be obtained, and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) will assess PA during pregnancy. A sample size of 384 pregnant women is the required minimum sample for an infinite population at a confidence level of 95%, a precision level of ± 5% and at a prevalence of PA or exercise during pregnancy of 50% (p < 0.05); however, a sample size larger than the minimum number necessary will be recruited to account for possible attrition and to protect against possible data loss. Data will be analysed using a multiple logistic regression to determine the factors that predict sedentary or moderate PA levels and chi-squared analysis to determine the associations between the PA levels of the participants and socio-demographic and clinical variables. The study will assess the data collected on the above-mentioned variables and draw conclusions based on patterns and themes that emerge during analysis. Phase II of the study focuses on strategy development and validation to facilitate the promotion of PA during pregnancy. The developed strategy will be validated through the application of the Delphi technique and the administration of a checklist to selected key stakeholders through organised workshops. Understanding the level and correlates of PA participation among this special population is fundamental to designing intervention strategies to enhance their understanding of, and participation in, PA and exercise. Furthermore, this study’s findings will inform facility-based healthcare providers about the need to integrate health education on PA and pregnancy into antenatal and postnatal care visits in the setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 447-447
Author(s):  
Jessica Hsieh ◽  
Sharon Tan ◽  
Raza Mirza ◽  
Lynn McDonald

Abstract Elder mistreatment, often understood in the context of abuse and neglect, is a growing concern for the health and wellbeing of seniors and their families. A 2015 Canadian prevalence study by the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) found that seniors who are mistreated are more likely to talk to peers, and not clinicians, police or family. However, a lack of knowledge, access to resources, and community stigma may limit seniors’ abilities to address mistreatment. This study evaluated the impact on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of having seniors deliver workshops on mistreatment to other seniors. A seniors advisory committee developed content for sixteen workshops. Senior facilitators delivered sixteen workshops about mistreatment across Ontario. Participants completed pre/post-surveys assessing changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. Results indicate that workshops effectively increased awareness of mistreatment issues among participants, on average, by 37.32%. Participants experienced a 43.98% increase in their perceived preparation to provide information to an older adult asking about mistreatment. Barriers to help-seeking among seniors with knowledge of mistreatment include finding trustworthy sources and a lack of legal protection. Prior to the training, healthcare providers were the main sources of information for participants (57.75%); depending on the severity of the situation, 60.43% of participants indicated eventually reporting to police, who are not the preferred source of information. Senior-led workshops about mistreatment appear to be effective for increasing knowledge and encouraging disclosure and help-seeking behaviours. Results support prevention models that empower seniors to educate other seniors on issues around mistreatment.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 420-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Laurell ◽  
B Larsson ◽  
O Eeg-Olofsson

The level of agreement between different sources of information, i.e. questionnaires, interviews and diaries, was evaluated in a sample of 129 schoolchildren, 69 girls and 60 boys, ranging in age from 7 to 17 years. Headache diagnoses and headache features showed high agreement between questionnaires and subsequent interviews. The concordance between questionnaires and interviews for headache diagnoses increased, and the number of unclassified headaches decreased, when the International Headache Society (IHS) duration criterion was excluded. When comparing headache frequency reported in questionnaires and interviews with diary recordings, the agreement was low and the frequency higher in the diaries. Overall, the agreement between questionnaires, interviews and diaries was not related to age or gender. The questionnaire may serve as a valid source of information in studies of headache in schoolchildren. Prospective recordings in diaries provide additional information, in particular of low-intensity headache. In children, the IHS duration criterion should be modified or excluded.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (32) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Schweckendiek

The reliability of flood defenses is often dictated by large uncertainties in the hydraulic loading and the structural resistance. Additional information decreases uncertainty, however, acquiring it is often costly. One source of information, even though in many cases readily available, is hardly used – survived loads. This article shows how data on survived load conditions can be incorporated in reliability analysis by means of Bayesian techniques. The theory is illustrated by simple and realistic examples. In contrast to other sources of information, reassessing structures using survived load data always leads to higher reliability or lower probability of failure. Furthermore, attention is given to the expected development of failure in time. This may be relevant for situations, where the safety requirements of a structure are stated in terms of a design or inspection period. For both, re-assessing reliability based on (one time) survived loads as well as the expected increase of reliability in time, the examples show significant impact. Use of this knowledge, may, consequently, safe cost of construction or reinforcement.


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