Maternal and Child Health Journal
Volume 19, Issue 11, 2015, Pages 2536-2543

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

Criss S.* , Woo Baidal J.A. , Goldman R.E. , Perkins M. , Cunningham C. , Taveras E.M.
  • a Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, Boston, MA 02115, United States
  • b Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States, Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, United States
  • c Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, Boston, MA 02115, United States, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860, United States
  • d Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, United States
  • e Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, United States
  • f Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, United States

Abstract

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. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Hispanic Pregnancy Early childhood Infants Decision-making Mothers health information

Index Keywords

information processing education doctor patient relation Physician-Patient Relations Interpersonal Relations human statistics and numerical data information service Internet procedures Hispanic Americans qualitative research Information Services human relation Patient Education as Topic Humans migrant psychology Hispanic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics pregnancy Mothers patient education mother adult Mass Media mass medium decision making Focus Groups Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943364269&doi=10.1007%2fs10995-015-1774-2&partnerID=40&md5=9b9f742a11fbef279e94bfd18fbc3eac
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-015-1774-2
ISSN: 10927875
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English