Health information seeking in the postpartum period: A cross-sectional survey. Issue 2 (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dol, Justine; Richardson, Brianna; Aston, Megan; McMillan, Douglas; Tomblin Murphy, Gail; Campbell-Yeo, Marsha
• Is Part Of: Journal of neonatal nursing. Volume 28:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Postpartum adjustment -- Health information seeking -- Online health seeking; Newborn infants -- Care -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatal intensive care -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers en néonatologie -- Périodiques; Infant, Newborn, Diseases -- Periodicals; Intensive Care, Neonatal -- Periodicals; Neonatal Nursing -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2021.08.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-1841

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To explore the postpartum health information seeking behaviour of women, identifying the health information sources used and valued as well as topics of uncertainty in the first six-months. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of women living in Eastern Canada who had given birth to an infant within last six months between October 2019–January 2020. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: 561 women participated, 56.5% primiparous. Women used Internet searches (93.4%), parenting websites (84.0%), family (79.3%), and friends (77.9%). Highest valued sources were Internet searches (86.5%), family (83.1%), parenting websites (82.9%), and physicians (74.3%). Women reported feeling concerned most about sleep, breastfeeding, developmental milestones, feeding, and illnesses including colds and fevers. Conclusion: Most women used and valued online sources and family. Sleep, breastfeeding, developmental milestones, feeding, and illnesses were areas where women are seeking additional information. Further work is needed to understand whether mothers are receiving evidence-based information on these topics from these sources.