Pregnant women’s use of information and communications technologies to access pregnancy-related health information in South Australia
D. Rodger A E , A. Skuse A , M. Wilmore B , S. Humphreys B , J. Dalton C D , M. Flabouris B and V. L. Clifton C DA Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Discipline of Anthropology and Development Studies, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
B Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Humanities, Discipline of Media, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
C Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
D The Robinson Institute, The Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA 5112, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: dianne.rodger@adelaide.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 19(4) 308-312 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY13029
Submitted: 28 February 2013 Accepted: 6 August 2013 Published: 5 September 2013
Abstract
This paper examines how pregnant women living in South Australia use information and communication technologies (ICTs), principally Internet and mobile phones, to access pregnancy-related information. It draws on 35 semistructured interviews conducted as part of the ‘Health-e Baby’ project, a qualitative study designed to assess the information needs and ICT preferences of pregnant women cared for at a South Australian metropolitan teaching hospital. Our research shows that although ICTs offer exciting possibilities for health promotion and the potential for new forms of communication, networking and connection, we cannot assume the effectiveness of communicating through such channels, despite near universal levels of ICT access. In turn, this highlights that if e-mediated health promotion is to be effective, health promoters and practitioners need to better understand ICT access, usage and content preferences of their clients.
Additional keywords: app, health communication, health promotion, Internet, mobile phone, smartphone, website.
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