Francisca Camacho-Morell1, Javier Esparcia2. 1. Delivery Room, La Ribera University Hospital, Crta Corbera s/n, 46600 Valencia, Spain; Doctoral Program in Clinical and Community Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: francisca.camacho@uv.es. 2. PhD in Geography (University of Valencia, Spain) and PhD in Sociology (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain). Research Institute for Local Development, University of Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: javier.esparcia@uv.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pregnant women create their childbirth expectations from their available information. Therefore, they should have access to reliable and quality medical information. However, the literature points a knowledge gap with respect to the sources of information used by them. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to analyse the most influential and widely used sources of information about childbearing in Spanish pregnant women. The secondary objectives were to assess the quality and usefulness of the information sources, to identify those regarded as deficient by pregnant women and to discover differences in information use related to parity. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken involving the administration of questionnaires to 40 primiparous and 40 multiparous (taking into account their first and second pregnancy). Social Network Analysis was used, as well as descriptive and inferential statistics for secondary objectives. RESULTS: Midwives were the most widely used (degree 0.988) and influential source of information (degree 0.600). Although the Internet was very much used (degree 0.738), its influence was very limited (degree 0.050). Healthcare professionals provided the most useful and highest quality information. Statistically significant differences have been found between first and second pregnancy of multiparous women in relation to the utilisation of some sources of information. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives were identified as the key professionals for informing pregnant women. The most influential sources were always people (this underscoring the importance of the face-to-face contact in the search for information). Although new technologies offered support, were unable to replace the information provided by healthcare professionals.
BACKGROUND: Pregnant women create their childbirth expectations from their available information. Therefore, they should have access to reliable and quality medical information. However, the literature points a knowledge gap with respect to the sources of information used by them. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to analyse the most influential and widely used sources of information about childbearing in Spanish pregnant women. The secondary objectives were to assess the quality and usefulness of the information sources, to identify those regarded as deficient by pregnant women and to discover differences in information use related to parity. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken involving the administration of questionnaires to 40 primiparous and 40 multiparous (taking into account their first and second pregnancy). Social Network Analysis was used, as well as descriptive and inferential statistics for secondary objectives. RESULTS: Midwives were the most widely used (degree 0.988) and influential source of information (degree 0.600). Although the Internet was very much used (degree 0.738), its influence was very limited (degree 0.050). Healthcare professionals provided the most useful and highest quality information. Statistically significant differences have been found between first and second pregnancy of multiparous women in relation to the utilisation of some sources of information. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives were identified as the key professionals for informing pregnant women. The most influential sources were always people (this underscoring the importance of the face-to-face contact in the search for information). Although new technologies offered support, were unable to replace the information provided by healthcare professionals.
Authors: María Jesús Valero-Chillerón; Desirée Mena-Tudela; Águeda Cervera-Gasch; Víctor Manuel González-Chordá; Francisco Javier Soriano-Vidal; José Antonio Quesada; Enrique Castro-Sánchez; Rafael Vila-Candel Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-29 Impact factor: 4.614