Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Pregnant women require health information to empower them while
engaging in preventive health behavior, improving self-care abilities, and reducing
anxiety. Some of the challenges are a lack of proper information about pregnancyrelated
complications and problems. The practice of seeking health information is
critical in reducing risk factors and raising awareness of the value of pregnancyrelated
information
for
current
and
future
outcomes.
Objective:
This study aimed to assess health information seeking and associated
factors among pregnant women in Debre Tabor town health facilities, Northwest
Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among
pregnant women in Debre Tabor town health facilities from May 01 to July 01, 2022.
A total of 423 participants were selected using a census method. An interviewerbased
questionnaire was used to collect the required data. Data entry and analysis
were performed using Epi info 7.2 versions and SPSS version 26 respectively.
Descriptive statistics, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used
to assess factors associated with pregnancy-related information seeking with a 95%
confidence interval and adjusted odds ratio, and P<0.05 was considered to measure
statistically significant variables.
Result: The proportion of pregnancy-related information seeking among pregnant
women was 52.7% (48.2, 57.5). The mean age of the study participants was 28.29 ±
4.96 SD years and 59.3% of pregnant women were urban residents. Place of
residence (AOR=2.08, CI=1.2, 3.59), Occupation (AOR=3.03, CI=1.46, 6.27), digital
literacy (AOR=1.74, CI=1.01, 2.99), self-efficacy (AOR= 6.59, CI=3.88, 11.17),
perceive severity to pregnancy-related complication (AOR=3.67, CI=2.16, 6.23) were
significant factors associated with pregnancy-related information seeking.
Conclusion: Pregnancy-related information seeking among pregnant women was
found low. An increasing level of digital literacy and giving awareness of
pregnancy-related complications could improve PRI seeking of pregnant women.
Keywords: Pregnancy-related information seeking, information seeking, pregnant
women, Debre Tabor town, Ethiopia
