Health-Information Seeking Behavior among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal at Primary Health Centres in Umuahia South L.G.A., Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Access to accurate health information is a critical determinant of positive maternal outcomes. In Nigeria, where maternal mortality remains high, understanding how pregnant women seek information within the primary healthcare system is essential for designing effective interventions. Aim: This study assessed the health information-seeking behavior (HISB) among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 305 pregnant women were recruited from selected PHC centres. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire, analyzing socio-demographic and obstetric profiles, information topics, sources, seeking patterns, and barriers. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests at a significance level of p<0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 27.4 (±5.8) years. Most had secondary education (39.7%) and were multiparous (70.8%). Nutrition (17.9% of topic mentions) and fetal development (15.2%) were the most sought-after information. Healthcare providers were the primary information source (46.9%), while the internet was a major supplementary source (17.0%). A majority (65.9%) were classified as active seekers, seeking information daily or weekly. The foremost barrier was the cost of internet data (20.4% of barrier mentions), followed by health workers being too busy (13.8%). No statistically significant association was found between the extent of seeking behavior and key socio-demographic or obstetric factors (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Pregnant women in Umuahia South are proactive information seekers but face a syndemic of barriers dominated by economic constraints limiting digital access and health system challenges impeding clear communication. Recommendations include strengthening patient-centered communication in PHC, exploring subsidized data schemes for health information, and integrating targeted health literacy education into antenatal care.