Information sources used by pregnant women to make healthy lifestyle choices: A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Using Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and the health belief model, the aim of this study is identify the information sources related to the promotion of healthy lifestyles during pregnancy, analysing their accessibility, relevance, and reliability. Study design: Qualitative Study. Methods: A thematic analysis of 25 semi-structured interviews with pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy was carried out, considering sociodemographic and clinical variables such as age, educational level, parity, and access to social networks, among others. The discourses and data were processed through coding and categorization, as per the objectives of the study. Validation was carried out through researcher triangulation. Results: Health professionals, the internet, and social media are among the variety of information sources used by pregnant women, with substantial variability in the accessibility and reliability of the sources and their direct influence on the acceptance and adherence to recommendations. The results of the study showed a strong reliance and trust in the recommendations from healthcare professionals, but also a growing influence of social media. Conclusions: Information provided by healthcare professionals is considered the most reliable and accepted, but pregnant women supplement this information by consulting other sources, where social networks are gaining ground, especially among young pregnant women. This highlights the need to develop strategies to improve the quality of online information.