Open AccessCOVID-19 Information Sources and Health Behaviors During Pregnancy: Results From a Prenatal App-Embedded Survey
Author(s) -
James C. Bohnhoff,
Alexander Davis,
Wändi Bruine de Bruin,
Tamar Krishnamurti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jmir infodemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2564-1891
DOI - 10.2196/31774
Subject(s) - covid-19 , pregnancy , obstetrics , medicine , psychology , virology , biology , genetics , disease , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background Pregnancy is a time of heightened COVID-19 risk. Pregnant individuals’ choice of specific protective health behaviors during pregnancy may be affected by information sources. Objective This study examined the association between COVID-19 information sources and engagement in protective health behaviors among a pregnant population in a large academic medical system. Methods Pregnant patients completed an app-based questionnaire about their sources of COVID-19 information and engagement in protective health behaviors. The voluntary questionnaire was made available to patients using a pregnancy app as part of their routine prenatal care between April 21 and November 27, 2020. Results In total, 637 pregnant responders routinely accessed a median of 5 sources for COVID-19 information. The most cited source (79%) was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Self-reporting evidence-based protective actions was relatively common, although 14% self-reported potentially harmful behaviors to avoid COVID-19 infection. The CDC and other sources were positively associated with engaging in protective behaviors while others (eg, US president Donald Trump) were negatively associated with protective behaviors. Participation in protective behaviors was not associated with refraining from potentially harmful behaviors (P=.93). Moreover, participation in protective behaviors decreased (P=.03) and participation in potentially harmful actions increased (P=.001) over the course of the pandemic. Conclusions Pregnant patients were highly engaged in COVID-19–related information-seeking and health behaviors. Clear, targeted, and regular communication from commonly accessed health organizations about which actions may be harmful, in addition to which actions offer protection, may offer needed support to the pregnant population.