Journal Article

The Role of Health Information Sources in Decision-Making Among Hispanic Mothers During Their Children’s First 1000 Days of Life

Taveras, Elsie M., Goldman, Roberta E., Criss, Shaniece, Cunningham, Courtney, Woo Baidal, Jennifer A., Perkins, Meghan

2015

Overview

Objectives This qualitative research aimed to explore how health information sources inform decision-making among Hispanic mothers during their children’s first 1000 days of life (conception-age 24 months), and to generate appropriate health information sources and communication strategies for future interventions. Methods We conducted seven focus groups with 49 Hispanic women who were pregnant or had children <2 years old. Domains included interpersonal and media sources, source trustworthiness, dealing with contradictory information, and how information affects decision-making. We used immersion/crystallization process for analysis. Results Trusted health information sources included health care providers, female and male family members, BabyCenter.com and other Internet sources, selected social media, and television. Some immigrant women reported preferring the Internet citing less established local support networks. Women highlighted the importance of validating health information through checking multiple sources for consistency and resolving contradictory information. Mothers expressed interest in receiving reliable website links from healthcare professionals and outreach to extended family. Conclusions for Practice Cultural factors, including immigration status, are important in understanding the use of health information sources and their role in decision-making about pregnancy and child health among Hispanic mothers. Healthcare providers and public health professionals should consider Hispanic mothers health information environment and provide culturally-relevant communication strategies and interventions during this high information-seeking time period.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / Behavior / Child / Crystallization / Decision Making / Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology / Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data / Female / Focus Groups / Gynecology / Health aspects / Health care / Hispanic American women / Hispanic or Latino - psychology / Humans / Influence / Information Services - statistics & numerical data / Information sources / Internet - statistics & numerical data / Interpersonal Relations / Male / Mass Media / Maternal and Child Health / Medical literature / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mother-child relations / Mothers - education / Mothers - psychology / Obesity / Patient Education as Topic - methods / Pediatrics / Physician-Patient Relations / Population Economics / Pregnancy / Public Health / Qualitative Research / Socioeconomic Factors / Sociology / Womens health