Abstract
BackgroundPregnancy is a time of heightened COVID-19 risk. Pregnant individuals’ choice of specific protective health behaviors during pregnancy may be affected by information sources.ObjectiveThis study examined the association between COVID-19 information sources and engagement in protective health behaviors among a pregnant population in a large academic medical system.MethodsPregnant patients completed an app-based questionnaire about their sources of COVID-19 information and engagement in protective health behaviors. The voluntary questionnaire was made available to patients using a pregnancy app as part of their routine prenatal care between April 21 and November 27, 2020.ResultsIn total, 637 pregnant responders routinely accessed a median of 5 sources for COVID-19 information. The most cited source (79%) was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Self-reporting evidence-based protective actions was relatively common, although 14% self-reported potentially harmful behaviors to avoid COVID-19 infection. The CDC and other sources were positively associated with engaging in protective behaviors while others (eg, US president Donald Trump) were negatively associated with protective behaviors. Participation in protective behaviors was not associated with refraining from potentially harmful behaviors (P=.93). Moreover, participation in protective behaviors decreased (P=.03) and participation in potentially harmful actions increased (P=.001) over the course of the pandemic.ConclusionsPregnant patients were highly engaged in COVID-19–related information-seeking and health behaviors. Clear, targeted, and regular communication from commonly accessed health organizations about which actions may be harmful, in addition to which actions offer protection, may offer needed support to the pregnant population.
Highlights
Pregnant people are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as hypertensive disorders, preterm birth, and cesarean delivery [1,2]
Pregnant patients were highly engaged in COVID-19–related information-seeking and health behaviors
Pregnant people are faced with the need to make decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccination and booster vaccination [38,39] and are adjusting their health behaviors as those around them are vaccinated
Summary
Pregnant people are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as hypertensive disorders, preterm birth, and cesarean delivery [1,2]. The risk of vertical transmission of COVID-19 is still being studied [3], and data on efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women lag behind those for other populations [4]; https://infodemiology.jmir.org/2021/1/e31774 XSLFO RenderX. Pregnant people are faced with heightened risk and less certain information when seeking knowledge of appropriate COVID-19–related health choices. Even if highly motivated to engage in positive health behaviors, pregnant people have not always known what actions would offer them appropriate protection, with many doubting the benefits of protective behaviors such as vaccination [7,8]. The sources that pregnant people access may, inform their willingness to implement protective behaviors. Pregnant individuals’ choice of specific protective health behaviors during pregnancy may be affected by information sources
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