Information Needs, Seeking Behaviors, and Support Among Low-Income Expectant Women

Abstract

Previous studies have consistently found associations between low income and infant health outcomes. Moreover, although health information-seeking is a maternal behavior related to improved health outcomes, little is known about the health information-seeking behaviors and information needs of low-income pregnant women. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the information needs, information-seeking behaviors, and perceived informational support of low-income pregnant women. Accordingly, the study recruited 63 expectant women enrolled in a subsidized prenatal care program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during two time periods: March-May 2011 and October-December 2011. Results indicated that participants relied heavily upon interpersonal sources of information, especially family and the father of the baby; rarely used the Internet for health-related information; and desired information beyond infant and maternal health, such as finding jobs and accessing community/government resources. Participants who used family members as primary sources of information also had significantly increased levels of perceived informational support and reduced uncertainty about pregnancy. Our findings have implications for the dissemination of pregnancy-related health information among low-income expectant women.

Food Consumer Information Behavior: Need Arousal, Seeking Behavior, and Information Use

“…Indeed, research in different contexts has proven personal preference toward social sources. For instance, Song, Cramer, McRoy, and May (2013) found that low-income pregnant women from Milwaukee (USA) cover their information needs through their families, while Huvila's (2013) research revealed that employees in a Nordic museum rely mainly on their colleagues. In addition, countless studies confirm that farmers use other members of their rural communities as information sources (see, for example, Agbongiarhuoyi et al, 2012;Nlerum, Albert, & Prince-Kaye, 2012).…”

Pregnancy-Related Information Need and Information-Seeking Pattern Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos State, Nigeria

“…In order to answer research questions 1 and 2 on the levels of information-need and information-seeking, a descriptive analysis was done. Table 2 above, presents the levels of information-need and informationseeking were categorized as high (35-50), moderate/average (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) and Low (1-17). It was found out that majority of the pregnant women in the study area had moderate level of pregnancy information needs (58.3%) and information-seeking (52.2%).…”

“…It comprised of five sections: Section A -Demographic Data Inventory; Section B: Sources of Information on Antenatal Care -13 items; Section C: Information Seeking Needs -12 items; Section D: Perceived Problems Inhibiting Information Seeking Needs -10 items; Section E: Information Seeking Types -10 items. The levels of information-need and information-seeking were categorized as high (35-50), moderate/average (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) and Low (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Maximum attainable score was 50.…”

Health Information Behavior of Expectant and Recent Fathers

“…Topics included "Signs and symptoms of an abnormal pregnancy for my partner," "How to help my partner during childbirth," and "Jobs in my community." The list was adapted from a similar measure generated by Milwaukee Health Department nurses and used in previous work with low-income expectant women (Song et al, 2013).…”

“…Shieh, McDaniel, and Ke (2009) reported the top-five information needs of 84 low-income pregnant women to be early labor, danger signs, growth and development of baby, medications, and stress management. When choosing from a list of 22 pregnancy-related information topics, a sample of low-income expectant women selected (a) government/community resources and (b) jobs as the top two interest areas (Song, Cramer, McRoy, & May, 2013). Dervin, Harpring, and Foreman-Wernet (1999) reported the primary informational concerns of 10 pregnant, drug-addicted women to be the effects of drugs on the fetus, getting help, the behavior of others, and legal consequences.…”