Where Do Women Go for Information During Pregnancy Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Mentor 1
Teresa Johnson
Start Date
16-4-2021 12:00 AM
Description
During the Covid-19 pandemic many women experienced problems accessing care and information during pregnancy and postpartum. They had questions about their body, the pregnancy process, and how to care for their baby. Women expressed frustration because they planned to attend their health care provider appointments and birthing classes in-person. Women were unable to have in-person interactions with their support system. The purpose of the qualitative study was to examine women's sources of information while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited via social media platforms, local clinical locations and word of mouth. Interviewers with clinical obstetric experience conducted semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Questions focused on information needs and how the women handled their pregnancy during the pandemic. Individual participants were asked to identify sources used and what information was important to them. Researchers generated thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke’s method. Twenty-six women participated with average age of 31.5, majority were Caucasian and started prenatal care in their 1st trimester, and 73% of participants had > 1 previous pregnancy. Participants pursued diverse information pertaining to pregnancy and childbirth. Women sought information from credible and reliable sources specific to their needs and individual experience. Once interviewers were analyzed, women described using the health information technology such as apps, websites, and online communities. Women connected with women going through similar experiences through Facebook groups, podcasts, and vlogs. Women read academic research from reliable organizations as they viewed them more reliable compared to searching for information online. Women sought out doulas as an important source of information and support. Women valued providers they perceived as available to them outside of scheduled appointments with questions and concerns. Women sought providers with similar values and wanted information about the postpartum period, self-care for physical health and for mental and emotional health in the perinatal period.
Where Do Women Go for Information During Pregnancy Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic?
During the Covid-19 pandemic many women experienced problems accessing care and information during pregnancy and postpartum. They had questions about their body, the pregnancy process, and how to care for their baby. Women expressed frustration because they planned to attend their health care provider appointments and birthing classes in-person. Women were unable to have in-person interactions with their support system. The purpose of the qualitative study was to examine women's sources of information while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited via social media platforms, local clinical locations and word of mouth. Interviewers with clinical obstetric experience conducted semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Questions focused on information needs and how the women handled their pregnancy during the pandemic. Individual participants were asked to identify sources used and what information was important to them. Researchers generated thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke’s method. Twenty-six women participated with average age of 31.5, majority were Caucasian and started prenatal care in their 1st trimester, and 73% of participants had > 1 previous pregnancy. Participants pursued diverse information pertaining to pregnancy and childbirth. Women sought information from credible and reliable sources specific to their needs and individual experience. Once interviewers were analyzed, women described using the health information technology such as apps, websites, and online communities. Women connected with women going through similar experiences through Facebook groups, podcasts, and vlogs. Women read academic research from reliable organizations as they viewed them more reliable compared to searching for information online. Women sought out doulas as an important source of information and support. Women valued providers they perceived as available to them outside of scheduled appointments with questions and concerns. Women sought providers with similar values and wanted information about the postpartum period, self-care for physical health and for mental and emotional health in the perinatal period.
