What the Health? Information Sources and Maternal Lifestyle Behaviors

Abstract

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/m 2 ) 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, ...

MAMMA MIA! Norwegian Midwives’ Practices and Views About Gestational Weight Gain, Physical Activity, and Nutrition

“…This frequent counseling throughout gestation and also that women may be more receptive and motivated to make changes for their own and their babies health have suggested pregnancy to be a particular “teachable moment” ( ACOG, 2015 ). Still, and in line with the present results, qualitative research and surveys have shown that provider–patient communication regarding GWG, PA, and nutrition is infrequent and that, unless requested, few pregnant women receive regular guidance about these health topics ( de Jersey et al, 2012 , 2013 ; Stengel et al, 2012 ; Willcox et al, 2012 ; Whitaker et al, 2016 ; Morris et al, 2017 ; Wilkinson et al, 2017 ; Emery et al, 2018 ; McGee et al, 2018 ; Dalhaug and Haakstad, 2019 ). Hence, this evidence signals a lack of focus on lifestyle behavior in pregnancy and highlights the importance of improving healthcare provider’s knowledge, confidence, and skills in giving such guidance.…”

“…Hence, this evidence signals a lack of focus on lifestyle behavior in pregnancy and highlights the importance of improving healthcare provider's knowledge, confidence, and skills in giving such guidance. On the other side, most of the studies regarding prevalence of prenatal lifestyle counseling are based on the pregnant women's report of provider advice (Stengel et al, 2012;Whitaker et al, 2016;Emery et al, 2018;Dalhaug and Haakstad, 2019), and some have shown little congruence between patient and healthcare providers perceptions of counseling practice (Lutsiv et al, 2012;Ferraro et al, 2013). This discrepancy may be due to the healthcare providers giving socially desirable responses or the pregnant women not recalling having received advice from their healthcare provider.…”

“…Our results are consistent with the results of McDonald et al (2012) , showing that approximately 60% of pregnant women had received advice about appropriate GWG as recommended by IOM from their midwife. Still, a significant proportion of pregnant women do not receive evidence-based advice about appropriate GWG, and this lack of information may drive several pregnant women to seek other information sources such as internet, blogs, online forums, books, parenting magazines, family, and friends, often being less reliable ( McDonald et al, 2012 ; Dalhaug and Haakstad, 2019 ). In addition, health professionals who view lifestyle counseling as important are likely those who respond to a survey related to GWG, PA, and nutrition, hence overestimating the rate of giving such advice in the present study, and as such being a potential source of bias ( Morris et al, 2017 ).…”

Health Literacy, Information Seeking Patterns and Perceived Outcomes among Pregnant Women in Two Districts of Tanzania

“…Surprisingly, in the same study, information provided online by other women was valued more than advice from HCPs. This is also supported by another study that revealed signi cantly more women reported internet and media sources than health professionals as the information source with the most impact on their health behavior (43). From a health care system perspective, these ndings are alarming, calling for strategies to integrate online/ web-based information as part of health educational resources to ensure women have access to high quality health information resources.…”

General population knowledge about osteoarthritis and its related risk factors in Jeddah Saudi Arabia

“…10 Surprisingly, just less than half )44.8%( reported their source of information about OA to be their friends and family, which was contrary to similar studies assessing the knowledge of the general public. [11][12][13] The finding is a concern because the friends and family may not be knowledgeable to provide the correct medical information. In addition, few participants )19%( relied on the Internet and social media as their source of information.…”