A Qualitative Study of Pregnant Women’s Perspectives on Antibiotic Use for Mom and Child: Implications for Developing Tailored Health Education Interventions
Lynn Y. Chen,
Elizabeth Flood-Grady,
Austen Hentschel,
Lauren Wright,
Rahma Mkuu,
Alyson Young,
Magda Francois,
Josef Neu,
Leslie A. Parker,
Elizabeth Shenkman,
Janice L. Krieger,
Dominick J. Lemas
Affiliations
Lynn Y. Chen
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Elizabeth Flood-Grady
STEM Translational Communication Center, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Austen Hentschel
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Lauren Wright
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Rahma Mkuu
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Alyson Young
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Magda Francois
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Josef Neu
Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Leslie A. Parker
Department of Behavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Elizabeth Shenkman
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Janice L. Krieger
STEM Translational Communication Center, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Dominick J. Lemas
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
The overutilization of antibiotics during pregnancy and early life are associated with adverse health outcomes for mothers and infants. In this study, we explored pregnant women’s opinions and concerns of antibiotics and how perceptions may affect their health-related decision-making. We conducted 18 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with pregnant women and used the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a framework to analyze the data. We found that mothers generally understood the benefits of antibiotics and were aware that antibiotics are clinically effective for treating bacterial infections. Importantly, perceived barriers related to antibiotic use included concerns regarding the impact of antibiotics on breastfeeding efficacy, microbial health, and societal factors such as antimicrobial resistance. The prescription of antibiotics by a healthcare provider was a cue to action for women, as they trusted providers to recommend medications that were safe for them and their infants. Overall, mothers shared that receiving education on the effects of antibiotics would improve their self-efficacy and decision-making surrounding the use of antibiotics for treating illness. Implications for tailored perinatal health education interventions to enhance antibiotic use, knowledge, and decision-making are discussed.
