Information needs of pregnant women – once-off needs and needs for information monitoring revealed by the McKenzie two dimensional model

Abstract

Maternal and infant mortality rates in African countries can be reduced through provision of reliable health information to pregnant women. This article reports on an exploratory study that investigated the information needs of pregnant women for information monitoring. Many information needs that occur once-off such as medication, diets and supplements, and genetic counselling were also revealed. The study applied an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Data were collected between August and October 2015 with a questionnaire from 37 respondents of whom eleven also participated in individual face-to-face interviews. Information monitoring can assist with meeting needs for information on an ongoing basis.