Online Health Information Seeking Behavior among Pregnant Women Referred to Alzahra Hospital, Ahvaz City, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women use the Internet to meet their information needs. Despite the contradictory information on the web, the increase in anxiety and its negative effects on fetal growth and maternal health, the importance of online search for health information becomes apparent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine online health information search behavior among pregnant women referred to Fatemeh Alzahra hospital in Ahvaz City, Iran, based on the Davis technology admission model. Methods: The present study was conducted using survey method. The study population consisted of pregnant women referring to Fatemeh Alzahra hospital in year 2019. Based on Cochran's formula, a sample size of 357 people was calculated. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire; the initial version of it was prepared with 34 questions. Research data were analyzed using correlation test and regression analysis. Results: Health information seeking behavior among the studied pregnant women was desirable, with an average of higher than 3 in all variables. The variables of convenience, trust, and usefulness at the level of more than 50% explained the attitude and ultimately the search for health information among pregnant women. Conclusion: The pregnant women of current study had the same information needs as other women in domestic and foreign research. An important issue in this regard is the high level of trust in online information, which highlights the need for health centers to pay attention to health education and health information literacy during pregnancy.

Keywords

• information seeking behavior
• health information
• pregnant women