Abstract
Objectives
The objectives of our study were to 1) assess Canadian women’s health information levels regarding pre- and postnatal topics in both primiparous and multiparous samples, and 2) identify factors associated with levels of health information in both groups and the pathways of such associations.
Methods
Methods: Data from the 2006 Maternity Experiences Survey developed by the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System (N=6,421) were used. The study population included mothers ≥15 years of age at the time of the birth, who had a singleton live birth in Canada during a three-month period preceding the 2006 Census and who lived with their infants at the time of the survey. Structural equation modeling was used to identify and examine pre- and postnatal acquired health information components in both samples and to assess factors that may influence this level of information.
Results
Primiparous and multiparous women perceived insufficient levels of information on similar topics: pain medication/anesthesia, warning signs/complications, formula feeding and changes in sexual responses. This common finding underscored that these informational needs had a large impact on the entire population of pregnant women, rather than being parity-specific. Level of perceived social support was positively associated with information acquisition on all health topics studied in both samples (p<0.0001 for both). Income was also positively associated with information levels to a similar extent on a range of topics in both samples (p<0.0001 — p<0.05).
Conclusions
Canadian primiparous and multiparous women perceived an inadequate level of information on the same topics, identifying knowledge gaps that should be addressed. Perceived level of social support and income significantly influenced information levels on pre- and postnatal health topics. Therefore women with low income and those with perceived lack of social support may be identified by health care providers as requiring additional health information.
Key words: Consumer health information, prenatal care, postnatal care
Résumé
Objectifs
Notre étude visait à: 1) évaluer les niveaux d’information des Canadiennes sur des sujets de santé pré- et post-natals au sein d’échantillons de femmes primipares et multipares et 2) cerner les facteurs associés aux niveaux d’information sur la santé dans les deux groupes et les pistes causales de telles associations.
Méthode
Nous avons utilisé les données de l’Enquête sur l’expérience de la maternité (2006) élaborée par le Système canadien de surveillance périnatale (N=6 421). La population étudiée englobait les mères, âgées de ≥15 ans lors de l’accouchement, ayant accouché d’un enfant vivant unique, au Canada, au cours des trois mois précédant le Recensement de 2006 et qui habitaient avec leur nourrisson au moment de l’enquête. Au moyen d’une modélisation par équations structurelles, nous avons cerné et examiné les éléments d’information sur la santé acquis avant et après l’accouchement dans les deux échantillons et évalué les facteurs ayant pu influencer ce niveau d’information.
Résultats
Les femmes primipares et multipares sentaient qu’elles étaient insuffisamment informées sur des sujets semblables: médicaments antidouleur/anesthésie, signes de danger/complications, allaitement artificiel et changements dans la réponse sexuelle. Ce constat commun souligne que ces besoins d’information touchaient largement toute la population des femmes enceintes plutôt que de varier selon la parité. Le niveau de soutien social perçu était associé positivement à l’acquisition d’information sur tous les sujets de santé à l’étude, dans les deux échantillons (ps<0,0001 dans les deux cas). De plus, dans les deux échantillons, le revenu était associé positivement aux niveaux d’information, dans une proportion semblable, sur un éventail de sujets (ps<0,0001 - ps<0,05).
Conclusions
Des Canadiennes primipares et multipares ont jugé avoir un niveau d’information insuffisant sur les mêmes sujets et ont cerné les lacunes à combler. Le niveau perçu de soutien social et le revenu influençaient significativement les niveaux d’information sur des sujets de santé pré- et post-natals. En conséquence, les femmes à faible revenu et celles qui disent manquer de soutien social peuvent être identifiées par le personnel soignant comme ayant besoin d’un surcroît d’information sur la santé.
Mots clés: information publique sur la santé, soins prénatals, soins post-natals
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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