Abstract
BackgroundThe objective of this study was to describe women’s processes for finding pregnancy-related nutrition information, their experiences seeking this information online and their ideas for improving internet sources of this information.MethodsIn total, 97 pregnant women completed an online quantitative questionnaire and 10 primiparous pregnant women completed semi-structured telephone interviews. Questionnaires and interviews asked participants to describe sources of pregnancy-related nutrition information; time of seeking; processes of searching online; experiences searching online; ideas for improving information found online. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi square tests; interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsNearly all (96%) survey participants sought nutrition information online. Information was most commonly sought during the first trimester of pregnancy. Motivators for using the internet included convenience and lack of support from health care providers. Barriers to using online information included lack of trust, difficulty finding information and worry. Women adapted the information they found online to meet their needs and reported making positive changes to their diets.ConclusionsThe internet is a key source of prenatal nutrition information that women report using to make positive dietary changes. Women would benefit from improved access to trustworthy internet sources, increased availability of information on different diets and health conditions, and increased support from health care providers.
Highlights
The objective of this study was to describe women’s processes for finding pregnancy-related nutrition information, their experiences seeking this information online and their ideas for improving internet sources of this information
The chi-square tests revealed no significant relationships between demographics and the sources women consulted or when they looked for nutrition information
This study has identified that the internet is a key source of prenatal nutrition information for pregnant women in Canada and that women report changing their eating habits as a result of information they find online
Summary
The objective of this study was to describe women’s processes for finding pregnancy-related nutrition information, their experiences seeking this information online and their ideas for improving internet sources of this information. A diet containing foods with an appropriate macro- and Studies of dietary intake of pregnant women in Canada show that women frequently fail to meet food group recommendations from Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide and that, on average, diet quality is low [7,8,9]. 49% of Canadian women gain excessive weight during pregnancy in relation to current guidelines [10], suggesting that excessive caloric intake is common during pregnancy for this population group [11]. An indepth investigation of women’s experiences with internet sources of information is warranted
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