Internet-based pregnancy information seeking in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

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INTRODUCTION: The internet and social media have become integral parts of people's lives, with many individuals using them to fulfill their information needs. Notably, around 90% of pregnant women worldwide use the internet to seek pregnancy-related information and often make decisions based on what they read. This study aimed to: 1) determine the prevalence of internet and social media use for pregnancy-related information seeking among Lebanese women; 2) assess their knowledge of basic pregnancy information; and 3) explore their attitudes towards information obtained from media sources. METHODS: A multi-centric cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2023, to March 15, 2024, across 25 primary health care centers throughout Lebanon. Pregnant women aged between 18 and 45 years completed a questionnaire primarily through face-to-face meetings and additionally online using Google Forms. The questionnaire was distributed in two ways: first, by approaching pregnant women at healthcare centers; and second, by contacting pregnant women via phone. The questionnaire, written in Arabic, included general questions about sociodemographic variables and social media use, as well as specific questions regarding knowledge and information-seeking behavior related to pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 377 pregnant women participated in the study, 74.3% (280) of whom have previous children. Additionally, 73.5% (277) of the participants used the internet to obtain medical information related to pregnancy, with Google being the most utilized platform. The most commonly searched topics were food and nutritional supplements recommended during pregnancy, drugs and practices to be avoided, and common pregnancy symptoms. Non-mothers were more likely than mothers to follow a medical influencer (p = 0.002) and use the internet for pregnancy-related information (p = 0.01). In a univariate logistic regression analysis, not having had a previous abortion (p = 0.04, OR = 0.61), not experiencing financial difficulties in visiting a doctor (p = 0.02, OR = 0.61), and using the internet for pregnancy-related information (p < 0.0001, OR = 2.55) were predictors of good knowledge about pregnancy information. CONCLUSION: The internet provides easy access to information for pregnant women. Non-mothers are more likely than mothers to use the internet for medical information. Using the internet helps pregnant women gain knowledge about pregnancy-related information.

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