Abstract:
INTRODUCTION. Pregnant women rely on information during pregnancy for better health
outcomes. This paper investigates pregnant women's interests in services that can offer health
literacy and health information through appropriate sources and channels.
METHOD. An exploratory study was conducted in 2015 using explanatory sequential mixed
methods to investigate thirty-seven women visiting two private gynaecological practices in
Pretoria, South Africa. Questionnaires and an interview schedule were used for data
collection.
ANALYSIS. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used for data analysis. McKenzie's
two-dimensional everyday-life information practices model was slightly adapted as
theoretical framework.
RESULTS. Knowledge of pregnant women’s most preferred information sources and channels
by care providers can improve maternal and infant health. Participants mostly reported some
interests in information monitoring and current awareness services using mobile
technologies. Pregnant women desire information monitoring on a one-off basis and/or an ongoing
basis.
CONCLUSIONS. Information monitoring can assist with the promotion of patient-centred
information and provision of reliable and new information especially by means of freely
available sources. The emphasis in more affluent communities was more on well-being than
maternal and infant mortality.
