HEALTH INFORMATION USE AMONG EXPECTANT MOTHERS AT MULAGO WOMEN AND NEONATAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Health information utilisation for pregnant women at Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital in Uganda was the focus of this research study. The research examined (1) maternal health information requirements and (2) information sources used by pregnant women and (3) health information benefits and (4) utilisation challenges during pregnancy. Research questions matched the study objectives while researchers underwent an extensive review of published literature to understand the variables. This study relied on a cross-sectional survey that involved choosing 210 expectant mothers from a total population of 480 based on the sample sise table published by Morgan and Krejcie in 1970. The study incorporated descriptive statistics to analyse quantitative data and thematic organisation approaches to process qualitative data to achieve methodological triangulation.

The research discovered that expectant mothers use various information sources which include healthcare providers and internet platforms to obtain trusted healthcare content. Expectant mothers required guidance about nutrition as well as medication usage and sexual relations along with suitable physical activities and emergency medical care throughout pregnancy. Expectant mothers who used health information gained better health knowledge and better scheduled their health activities and followed medical instructions. The process of utilising health information faced obstacles since individuals displayed unfavourable health perspectives while they struggled to make educated decisions about their well-being along with their household responsibilities and childcare responsibilities.

The research analysis advocates for pregnant women to obtain their health information from professional medical providers since various internet sources are accessible. Healthcare organisations need to establish systems that provide expectant mothers with complete educational materials about nutrition and medication and sexual health as well as physical activity and emergency care services. Expectant mothers must reserve time for health-promoting activities they should pay attention to their health status while following medical instructions. The population's health information usage requires solutions for health attitude issues as well as decision-making obstacles and domestic duty problems.